Wanda Harrison

Wanda Harrison (87), graduated to heaven, peacefully, in her home on August 8, 2022. She was preceded by her husband Frank Harrison Jr., daughter Christina, grandson Jerome and her parents Nila and Russell Olels. She is survived by her brother Archie Olels, three children; Russ, Dee and Cami, eight grandchildren; Stacey, Rachel, Michael, Melissa, Mark, Christopher, Nicholas and Zachary and nine great-grandchildren; Skylar, Ashlynn, Shaylee, Brayden, Dallas, Chloe, Lyra, Peyton, and Quinton.
Wanda impacted thousands of lives as a school teacher in Moses Lake for decades. After her retirement from teaching in 2001, she founded and directed, the award winning, Youth Senior Connection program in Moses Lake. This program has brought encouragement to children, student volunteers and retired adults since 2004. She was a charter member of the Moses Lake United Methodist Church where the YSC program meets and raised up new leadership to ensure the program would continue to be a strong source of hope in the community when she was no longer able to direct it herself.
Wanda was instrumental in promoting Big Bend Community College in the area and distributed fliers door to door to make sure Moses Lake would be the place where it would be built. In 1962 she was in the first class on the South Campus. She was a charter member of the Vikings Honor Society and was one of the first teachers aides hired at Midway Elementary. Once the highway between Moses Lake and Ellensburg became 4 lanes she and a friend drove daily to Central Washington University. She finished 2 years of schooling in 1 year due to her concentrated efforts. She continued on to eventually earn her Master's degree.
In the 1970 s, Frank and Wanda were key figures in bringing the first girls softball league, Miss Softball America, to the community. She fought hard to get fields to play on for the girls, procured tournaments for the girls to play in Canada and other areas in the Pacific Northwest. She even went to Spokane to be on TV to help raise money for the girls to go to California for the national tournament.
God gave Wanda a huge heart for children, and people throughout the community. She started the United Methodist Youth group and often served as Vacation Bible School Coordinator, Sunday School Superintendent, and even the janitor. Always a leader, she helped in any way she could, providing wisdom, direction, and was willing to do any job no matter how big or small.
In 2011, Wanda helped revive the Columbia Basin School Retirees Association by growing its membership and support. Through her leadership the organization began giving grants to educational programs, teachers as well as awarding scholarships to student teachers. Everywhere she went she trained up new leadership to take her place and this organization is still going strong.
As a member of Kiwanis International, she started K-Kids at Lakeview Elementary along with Rhonda Ebel. Frank and Wanda founded the Aktion Club which was the only service club for adults with disabilities at the time. Throughout her life she continued to support the activities of Kiwanis by helping at the food booths and concession stands at the Grant County Fair and Cowboy Breakfasts. She was an inspiration to others for her hard work and fortitude. Her dedication and generosity toward lifesaving causes did not go unnoticed. She was the recipient of the Walter Zeller Fellowship and George Hixon Awards.
The love and dedication Wanda had for children and the community will impact people for years to come. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends. We are comforted to know she s now in heaven with Frank now.
Contributions in honor of Wanda for the Youth Senior Connection will be accepted by the Moses Lake Kiwanis Club. Donations are tax deductible and can continue to be made into the future so Wanda's legacy of impacting children's lives can continue through you. Make checks payable to Kiwanis Club of Moses Lake and mail to PO Box 702, Moses Lake, WA, 98837.
Memorial service to be held Sunday, August 21, 2022 at 4 PM at The United Methodist Church, 746 S Ironwood Drive, Moses Lake, Washington. Everyone is welcome