Victoria Lynn Wanzo

1956 - 2024

Victoria Lynn Wanzo was born on December 17, 1956, to Charles and Alice White in Aurora, Illinois. Victoria was raised in Madera, California, by her mother, Alice Jordan, and stepfather, Larry Jordan. Vicki dedicated her life to Christ early in her life through baptism at Church of Living God in Madera, California.

Vicki graduated from Madera High School in 1974. She attended Fresno City College and enlisted in the United States Army Reserve. She eventually enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1977. She met the love of her life and future husband, Willie Wanzo, at her first duty station, Barksdale AFB, Louisiana. They started dating in 1977 and were joined in matrimony in 1979. Vicki served the Air Force as a Supply Specialist, Social Actions Manager, and instructor at the Noncommissioned Officer Academy West at Bergstrom AFB, Texas. Vicki’s assignments included Barksdale AFB, Louisiana, Osan AB Republic of Korea, Columbus AFB, Mississippi, Royal Air Force Bentwaters 
England, Bergstrom AFB, Texas, and she retired from Keesler AFB, Mississippi, in 1994. While stationed in England, Vicki was selected as the Social Actions Noncommissioned Officer of the Year for United States Forces Europe.

While pursuing her bachelor’s degree from William Carey, she followed her passion of cooking Mexican food by working for Taco Sombrero. Upon completing her degree, she was hired by Sandhill Behavioral Hospital. She went on to complete her master’s in business administration and served as Human Resource Coordinator for Memorial Hospital when they acquired Sandhill. She retired from Memorial in 2008. Vicki earned three Associate Degrees in Applied Sciences from the Community College of the Air Force, a Bachelor Degree in General Studies and a Master of Business Administration.

Vicki has spearheaded numerous community activities to include cancer walks, blood drives, clothes drives, Harrison Central High School Band and ROTC Boosters and fundraisers, and she was a member of the frontline Red Cross Response Team following Hurricane Katrina. Vicki was involved in recovery efforts assisting coast residence receiving FEMA Aid Funding. Vicki attended Mt. Calvary Missionary Baptist Church in person until her illness. She performed her “Give them Their Flowers” presentation (still available on YouTube).

Victoria was married to her husband, Willie, for 45 years. Their union was blessed with two sons, Taj and Jamal Wanzo, and they served as loco parentis for their nephew, Pierre Stubbs, through high school. They all appeared in a Jet Magazine Article on parenting and being an Air Force Family in October 1999.

She was preceded in death by her sister, Beverly Taylor of Phoenix, AZ.  She leaves behind to cherish her memories: husband, Willie Wanzo; sons, Taj (Lexi) of Memphis, TN, and Ja’mal (Deidra) of Pahrump, NV; mother, Alice Jordan of Madera, CA; stepfather, Larry Jordan 
Madera, CA; father, Elder Charles White of Battle Creek, MI; sister, Sherrie White of Salem, OR; her brother, Darrelle White of Gulfport, MS; nephews, Pierre Stubbs (Ben) of Salem, OR, and Raymond (Mia) of Atlanta, GA; niece, Lisa Parson (Timothy) of Atlanta, GA; granddaughters, Brooklynn Wanzo, Braxtynn Wanzo, and Brightynn Wanzo, all of Pahrump, NV; sisters-in-law, Dr. Cassandra Wanzo of Atlanta, GA, Cathy Wanzo of Milwaukee, WI, and Regina Wanzo of Milwaukee, WI; special friends, Jean Bean, Carlotta Turner and Karen Burton; and a host of family, friends and neighbors.