Wanda Tatum Ballard

Wanda Tatum Ballard, 73, passed away peacefully at home Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2014, surrounded by her family, after a yearlong struggle with pancreatic cancer. Memorial service: 11 a.m. Monday at First United Methodist Church of Fort Worth. A reception will follow in the Wesley Fellowship Hall. Wanda requested that her body be given for the advancement of medical knowledge. Wanda was born in Columbus, Ga., and grew up in Plant City, Fla. She was selected for an accelerated learning program, enabling her to graduate from high school at age 16 and complete college in three years, meeting her husband, Ron, while attending Emory University. Having served alongside Ron as a minister's wife in Georgia, Wanda began teaching elementary school when the family moved to Glasgow, Scotland. Later, upon making her home in Hurst, Wanda continued to teach in elementary school and as an instructor in the gifted and talented program, eventually serving Birdville ISD as an administrator, overseeing ESL and foreign language programs. Wanda found great joy in loving and raising her children, Rhonda, Kyle and Christa. She has distinguished herself as a professional woman, a selfless and devoted wife, mother and grandmother, and a loyal friend and companion. Her beauty has been enhanced by her faithful service to Christ in all these roles. As Wanda, Mom and Noni, she has left an enduring impression and continues to inspire us all.