Wanda Rochell

Wanda Rochell, 90, of Winter Haven, Florida, passed away peacefully on November 14, 2024. She was born on March 13, 1934 in Benton, Missouri to Chester and Pauline Mack.
Wanda graduated from Benton High School in 1952, where she played basketball, held office as Senior Secretary and graduated Salutatorian. She joined the Air Force in 1953 and worked as a Switch Board Operator for the Combat Operations Centers in California and Guam.
She married Floyce Rochell on February 9, 1955 and they had one child, Pamela. Wanda often jokingly commented, that after accomplishing perfection, there was no need to try again. In addition to being a mother and homemaker, she worked as a code clerk, telephone operator, and other roles including secretary, loan officer and bank teller. She attended college at the University of Hawaii from 1964 to 1966. She later joined her husband in various business ventures such as Rochell's Barber Shop, Rochell Building Supply and multiple Whites Home and Auto Store locations located in Florida, South Carolina and Tennessee.
She was an avid golfer, loved to read and tried her hand at writing books. She was active in the Military Wives Club and her church. Places she called home during her life included Missouri, California, Guam, Washington, D.C., Virginia, Hawaii, Washington state, South Carolina, Tennessee and Florida.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Chester and Pauline Mack; her husband Floyce Rochell; her sister, Dorothy Catherine Smith and brother, John Mack.
She is survived by her siblings, Jim Mack, Glenda Gosnell, Mary Lou Hinton, Polly Polachek, Bonnie Sitze, Connie Spence and David Mack; her daughter Pamela and son-in-law Scott Smith; her grandchildren, Kayla and Suraj Bali, Rebecca Gill and Bryanne Smith.
Of all her life's accomplishments, she was most proud of the title she earned as "Nana." She acquired this distinction by investing countless hours of care, guidance, mentorship, love and support to her grandchildren.
Visitation will be 2PM, Thursday, November 21, 2024 at Ridge Community Church of God in Dundee, Florida with Pastor Rodney Cannon officiating. Funeral services will be held immediately preceding at 3PM. Interment will take place at 10AM on Friday, November 22, 2024 at the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, Florida.