Wanda McDermond

Wanda McDermond passed away peacefully of natural causes at the age of 95 on October 16, 2024 in Ellicott City, MD after a long stretch of living with dementia.

Wanda was the eighth child of the late Russell and Floda Ruddle of Manassas, Virginia. She was born on January 16, 1929 in Riverton, West Virginia, where she was raised through high school (Class of 1947 Circleville High School). She moved to Washington, DC and later settled in Bowie, MD, where she remained until moving to Encore at Turf Valley in Ellicott City, where she received devoted care.

Wanda was a loving and generous mother who enjoyed spending time with family and friends. She was a fabulous cook and exchanged many recipes with family and friends. Wanda worked as a secretary for many years and retired from NASA, where she got to travel and support the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite.

In addition to her parents, Wanda was preceded in death by two sisters, Virginia Gooding and Irene Landes; six brothers Roscoe Ruddle, Carl Ruddle, Henry (Ford) Ruddle, Edsel Ruddle, Melvin (Clyde) Ruddle, and infant William Ruddle; her daughter Peggy Cusack, granddaughter Cari Cusack, great grandson Shane Morris, Jr, and her son Duane K McDermond (Kenny). Wanda is survived by her sister, Wilda Carver; her son in law John Cusack III (Jack), her daughter in law, Denise Klimas, her son and daughter in law Mark and Marilyn McDermond, her daughter and son in law Lori and Timothy Carr; Grandchildren John Cusack IV, Michelle and husband Shane Morris, Maleah McDermond, Julia McDermond, James McDermond, Steven McDermond, Benjamin and wife Ryleigh Carr, Jacob Carr, Madeline Carr; great grandchild Bohden Carr, as well as many nephews and nieces.

Wanda chose to donate her body to science at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences (GW Anatomical Donor Program).

Wanda's loving and generous spirit will live on in those she left behind.

Per Wanda's wishes, there will be no services, and her family will be celebrating her life privately.

The family requests those who wish to express sympathy to consider making a donation to the American Cancer Society.