Wanda Zuehlke Stokes

Wanda Ruth Stokes, 81, of Abilene, Texas and formerly of Ballinger went to be with the Lord early Sunday morning, September 23, 2012.

Wanda was born November 13, 1930 in Bethel Community in Runnels County to Oswald and Irene (Scales) Zuehlke. She attended school at Bethel and graduated from Ballinger High School in 1948. She worked at the Southwestern State Telephone Company in Ballinger as an assistant supervisor until 1953. Wanda and Herman Lawson Stokes, Jr. were married July 3, 1953 in Ballinger, and the couple lived in Wichita Falls, moving to Lubbock in 1967. Her husband preceded her in death April 13, 2009. For 30 years she was an insurance/telephone supervisor for several large hospitals in both Lubbock and Abilene.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and two sons, Gary and Alan Stokes.

Wanda is survived by her daughter, Pam Smith and husband, Randy, of Brownwood; four grandchildren, Hubble Smith and wife, Amy, of Abilene; Scotty Smith of Abilene; Tamra Diaz and husband, Gabriel, of Early; and Kristen Curtis of Throckmorton; seven great-grandchildren, Justin and Hunter Smith, Daniel, Alex and Xavier Diaz, Colton and Sharla Ray Curtis.

Visitation for family and friends will be Tuesday, September 25 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Lange Funeral Home in Ballinger. A graveside service will be held Wednesday, September 26, at 1:00 p.m. at Old Runnels Cemetery near Ballinger.

Memorial donations may be made to Hospice of the Big Country in Abilene.