Wanda Lee Ridlon was born April 17, 1931, in Hamilton, Kansas, to Lee Roy and Henrietta Graves Andrew. She was the couple's oldest child and only daughter. Her younger brother, Bill, died in 1979. Her youngest brother, Jim, still lives with his wife Kay in the original family home in Madison, Kansas. Wanda grew up and attended all of her high school years in Madison, always working at least one job at Hadley Drug Store, Sauder Hardware or as a PBX operator to help support the family she loved. Wanda met Paul Ridlon, an assistant connection foreman with Cities Service Pipeline Company, in 1950. Wanda and Paul dated for two years. Paul proposed to Wanda on Christmas Day of 1951, then, was transferred to Sour Lake, Texas, about a week later. Wanda stayed behind in Madison until Paul could settle himself in Sour Lake, then boarded a train and travelled alone to join Paul in Texas in early February. She married Paul on February 9, 1952. The couple has four children: Mary Lou (husband Ed) of Vero Beach, Florida; Ronald Lee (wife Kimberly) of Sebastian, Florida; Charles Benjamin (deceased, wife Veda) of Fredonia, Kansas; and Don Paul (wife Julie) of Edmond, Oklahoma. Wanda and Paul have three granddaughters and one grandson, with a great-grandson on the way. Wanda was always the perfect helpmate to Paul and the mother that all of her children's friends wished were theirs. She was a gregarious person who loved visiting with friends, growing flowers, boating, water skiing, fishing and travelling with Paul in the their motor home, which they enjoyed together for 26 years. Wanda was an accomplished seamstress and quilter. For a time, when her children were grown past their dependent years, she ran a successful drapery business which she only gave up in order to travel during the retirement years. Wanda never met a person she didn't want to get to know, never encountered a project that she would not try. She was dearly loved and will always be sorely missed by her entire family. Funeral Service 10:00 a.m. Thursday, February 20, 2014 at Fitzgerald Southwood Colonial Chapel. Interment 3:00 p.m. Thursday, February 20, 2014 at Farmington Cemetery, Prairie Township, Kansas.

Fitzgerald Southwood Colonial Chapel, 918-291-3500