Polly Sue Wingenter

Polly Sue Wingenter passed away peacefully on March 14, 2026, age 82, surrounded by her family at home in San Antonio, Texas.

Born Polly Sue Fricke on January 12, 1944, to Pearl Pauline "Polly" Locklin and William Ernest "Bill" Fricke. Sue, or "Susie" as she was known as a child, was raised in Lexington, Texas. As a young girl, she spent time at her father's bar, called The Joint, and roamed the countryside, galloping around on the back of her beloved horse, Petsy. A good rider, she was the local rodeo queen in 1958. She also spent time staying with family in Giddings, Texas. She graduated from Lexington High School where she had played saxophone and had been a baton twirler for the band.

She attended Our Lady of the Lake College in San Antonio and graduated with a degree in speech therapy and subsequently worked as a librarian at the main San Antonio library. She was married on June 18, 1966, to Ronald Carl Wingenter after meeting him on a blind date at The Landing, a jazz club in San Antonio. She raised two children, Ronald Jr. and Suzanne, and for both she cheerfully endured countless hours of swimming meets. She absolutely doted on her grandchildren, always ready to follow along when the kids wanted MaMa to go see something -- and she loved shopping for them. Throughout her life, she remained close to her older sisters, Billy Ann Langhennig and Gail Yvonne Walther, and would spend numerous hours on the phone with them back when long distance calls were charged per minute.

At the age of 50, she took voice and acting lessons, and she spent some time singing with the San Antonio Choral Society and participated in several operas as a chorus singer.

She especially loved Christmas, decking the house with Santa figures, packing the tree with ornaments, and singing carols. She loved horses and murder mysteries. As a girl she was a bona fide member of the Elizabeth Taylor fan club. She enjoyed crossword puzzles, and watching football and the Spurs. She spent lots of time chasing her own mysteries by researching genealogy, visiting court houses and libraries to track down records. She was a voracious reader. She loved animals, and they loved her, too.

Above all, though, she loved family. She once said it didn't matter where she lived if she was with her family. She lived a life of service to her family and passed surrounded by the love she gave reflected in those of us who are left behind. A beautiful, quiet, thoughtful, and kind soul, we shall miss her dearly. We stand as a testament to her legacy.

She is survived by her husband Ron Sr., son Ron Jr. and his wife Kerry, daughter Suzanne, and her grandchildren Brennan, Lexie, Noah, Elizabeth, Miriam, Zoe, and Simon. She is preceded in death by her sisters Billy Ann and Gail, and her granddaughter Faith.

Funeral services will be held at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Helotes, Texas, on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, starting at 10:30 a.m. visitation, 11:30 a.m. rosary, and 12:00 p.m. funeral mass.