Wanda Janet Horton Edler

1935 - 2022

Wanda Janet Horton (Nan) Edler
July 9, 1935 - July 1, 2022
Mansfield, Texas - On July 1, 2022, at the age of 86, Wanda Janet Horton Edler, our beloved Nan, of Mansfield, TX., spread her wings and went to her heavenly home. She left peacefully with her family by her side.
Wanda was born on July 9, 1935, to Raymond D. Horton and Muriel Hill Horton, on her family farm near Perrin, Texas. The family moved to Borger, Texas in 1942 to join her "Daddy", a carpenter who was building facilities to assist the war effort. She started 2nd grade in Borger and graduated from Borger High School in 1953, where she was a band twirler and drum majorette. It was at Borger High School that she met her future husband of 45 years, Jerry Don Edler, with whom she had her three children, Lisa, Don, and Jana. Phillips Petroleum Company, who Jerry was employed by for 32 years, transferred the family to Amarillo, Texas in 1969, and then to Bartlesville, Okla in 1971. In 1978, Jerry, Wanda and Jana moved to Stavanger, Norway, where Wanda was an expert at planning trips around the world for her family and friends to take. She loved to travel and would marvel that a small-town girl from Borger, Texas was able to experience so much of the world she travelled. When their first grandchild, Julia Anderson, was born, Wanda and Jerry were transferred to Houston, Texas. As Wanda would frequently remind us, God knew she needed to be near her grandchildren. After retirement, there was one final move to Mansfield, Texas to be close to her daughters and their families.
After a divorce, Wanda was given what she called one of the greatest gifts of her life, sharing in the upbringing of grandchildren, Matthew "Dillon" Anderson, and Grace Anderson. Her life centered around volunteering at J.L. Boren Elementary, where she could be found most days reading to the students or helping teachers with whatever task they needed her to do. She would take and pick up 4 or 5 boys and girls every day for school, and was lovingly known as "Nan", to all that met her.
Her grandson John, who lived in Aledo, spent nearly every weekend with Nan, until moving with his parents to Taiwan. Her grandson Dalton, who lived in Florida and later Georgia, would come for summer visits and she loved the time she was able to spend with him, always making the comment that he lived too far away. When her son Don moved to Mansfield three years ago, she was filled with joy that her children were living in the same area. It really was her dream come true.
By far Wanda's most joyful times were spent in Ute Park, N.M. every summer with her family. For 65 years her parents, aunts and uncles, cousins, brothers, nieces and nephews, children and grandchildren, and friends would join her for weeks or months at a time to build family traditions and make family memories. The Star-Telegram even wrote an article about the family and their traditions in 2001. She loved bridge, playing weekly with her friends all of her adult life, up until two weeks before her passing.
Like her mother, she was a wonderful cook and one of the ways she showed her love was by feeding whoever walked into her house. Friends of her children and grandchildren knew there would always be cookies, brownies or chocolate nut chews waiting for them after school at Nan's house. She shared her loved with everyone around her, always reaching out to the ones that might otherwise be left behind.
It would fill a hundred pages to tell all the wonderful attributes Wanda had. She was wise, kind, loving, forgiving, generous, hardworking, trustworthy, honest, and responsible. She was as beautiful (on the inside and out) on her 86th birthday as she was on her 16th. She had an unwavering faith in her God and Savior, Jesus Christ, and that is the foundation upon which she built her life.
She was an inspiration to everyone who knew her. For her family and friends, she was the closest example of Christ's unconditional love for us all. Although it is unimaginable for us to go on living without her by our side, it brings us peace knowing Dillon, Mema and Papa, Austin, Angie and Lee were there to hold her hand as they ascended into the heavens. They are dancing in Heaven today.
Wanda was preceded in death by her parents, Raymond and Muriel Hill Horton; in-laws, Don and Winifred Edler; brother Douglas Horton; grandson, Matthew "Dillon" Anderson; great-nephew Austin Phillips; great-niece Angie Hernandez, and many wonderful aunts and uncles. She is survived by her children, Lisa Anderson Scott (Brian) of Ft. Worth, Don Edler,of Mansfield, Tx, and Jana Henderson (Tommy) of Ft. Worth; grandchildren Julia Anderson Durst (Josh), John Henderson, Dalton Edler and Grace Anderson; brother, Gary Horton; nieces and nephews. The family would like to thank the staff, and especially the caregivers, of The Ridglea Senior Assisted Living facility for giving Wanda care in her final few months of life,
Wanda was as giving in life, as she was in death, planning for many years to donate her body to UT Southwestern Medical School with the hope it might help bring about more knowledge and treatment for Rheumatoid Arthritis, from which she suffered for 47 years with multiple joint replacements and surgeries. A memorial and celebration of life will be held September 24, 2022 at 4 PM at the River Bottom Pub, 7920 Randol Mill Rd., Fort Worth Texas, 76120.
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her name to Rheumatoid Arthritis Foundation.