Wanda Lovita Beach

Born in Pocahontas, Arkansas on August 1, 1922, entered Heavens gates on October 14, 2016. Mother - Pearl Ann Phillips, Father - Elza Dewitt McIllwain. Wanda had 3 brothers, Leo, Bill and Hershel, 4 sisters, Betty, Deanna, Donna and Sharon. In 1939 she married the love of her life, Johnnie Beach. What a dynamic duo, small but mighty. They both graduated from Pixley High School and resided there too. They had 2 sons, Donald Ray and Harvey Lavond, and a daughter, Lovita Ann. Wanda has 7 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren and even great-great grandchildren. While living in Pixley, Wanda worked as a waitress at a truck stop, while Johnnie was a truck driver. They moved to Fresno in 1946 and stayed in the area for the next 70 years. Wanda again worked as a waitress alongside her sister Betty at Woolworths and then Star Pharmacy. In 1961 she started at the downtown Longs Drugs where she worked for 15 years. In 1977 Johnnie passed away, after one year of retirement Wanda went back to work with sister, Deanna and daughter Lovita working in catering for Del Webb and Pardini's. After many years she started with Fresno Unified School District in the kitchen. She loved the ladies she worked with, many laughs and a lot of hard work. Hoover High School was her main school. She retired at the young age of 80. Her work ethic has always amazed her family and friends. Her house was always in order. She was very organized, even her sock drawers were neat. She did not like clutter, had to have the pillows just so on the couch. She spent her remaining 14 years fixing up her double-wide mobile home, traveling and visiting friends, tending to her garden, the neighbors were always envious of her green thumb. She enjoyed southern gospel music, once a month she and some neighbors would go to New Covenant and listen to her longtime friend, Wilber Daniels and Chordsmen. Wanda's greatest treasure was her family and pictures to prove it. She accumulated quite a large photo album collection. Nothing put a smile on her face as when she looked through her many photo albums.
Beloved Wanda, sister, mom, grandma and great-grandma will be missed very deeply.. Her feisty, spunky and tell it like it is personality is who she was, and we all loved her for it.
Visitation will be held at Lisle Funeral Home on Thursday, October 20, 2016 from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Funeral Service: 10:00 a.m. Friday, October 21, 2016 at the Lisle Funeral Home, 1605 "L" Street, Fresno, California, 93721.