WANDA BEARDSHEAR

Mrs. Beardshear was born February 5, 1922 in Denison, IA and passed away on August 25, 2017 in Mountain Home, AR.

She was united in marriage to Dale Beardshear on December 1, 1946 in Kansas City, MO.

Wanda is survived by her husband of 70 years, Dale Beardshear; her daughter Carla Boze and husband Douglas; granddaughter Jamie Parrott and husband Rodney; great grandsons Samson and Orin Parrott; great granddaughter Onna Boze along with her mother and sister Blaine and Jaden Rybolt; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Ralph Jacob and Nina Vera (Zea) Baumgarner; brothers Elwood and Harold Baumgarner; sister Wenona Baumgarner; two infant brothers and her grandson Lucas Boze.

Following graduation from Denison High School, Wanda began working in the defense sector during World War II. She joined the Navy and served as a WAVE Radioman, documenting Japanese radio transmissions. She was listening when the Enola Gay dropped the bomb on Hiroshima.

After the war, she lived in Kansas City, MO where she attended Huff Business College. While in Kansas City, she met Dale at a church function. They married after a three month courtship. Since he had served in the Army, she always said they had an Army/Navy marriage. They went to Homer, NE to live where Dale was raised. In 1956, Wanda and Dale adopted their baby daughter, Carla, after a three year wait.

In 1965, she earned her LPN certification. She served in nursing homes in Sioux City, IA until the family moved to West Plains, MO in 1970. She worked briefly at West Vue Nursing Home, then five years in the Intensive Care Unit of West Plains Memorial Hospital (now Ozarks Medical Center).

Dale and Wanda moved to Gainesville, MO to be closer to her mother, working at the Ozark County Health Department, managing the Adult Boarding Home in Gainesville, then working at Gainesville Healthcare Center. Wanda finished her working years in many capacities with Green Thumb, at Gainesville City Hall, the Senior Center, and Gainesville Schools. She finally retired at age 82.

She was active in her community and church, Theodosia United Methodist Church. She helped to establish MOZARK Regional Symphony, now Mountain Home Orchestra. She played the violin and served as treasurer for that group for several years.

In October of 2011, Dale and Wanda travelled on the Springfield Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. Wanda was one of only four women veterans in that particular tour group.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Gideons International or the charity of choice. Arrangements are by Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Gainesville, MO.