Wanda Marie Ryals

Wanda Marie (Wilson) Ryals, age 89, of Robinson, Texas, went to Paradise on Tuesday, March 3, 2026. She died peacefully in her sleep, which was always her desire.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, March 12 from 6:00-8:00 p.m., at Pecan Grove Funeral Home in Waco. A memorial service will be held on Friday, March 13 at 10:00 a.m. at the New Road Church of Christ in Waco. A private burial will be held at a later date at the Gholson Cemetery.

Wanda was born on June 25, 1936 in Beaumont, Texas to the late William Marvin and Dula Lee (White) Wilson. She graduated from South Park High School in Beaumont in 1954.

Wanda accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior and was baptized at the South Park Church of Christ in Beaumont when she was 12 years old. She was a member of the New Road Church of Christ at the time of her death. She remained faithful all of her life, even when her health no longer allowed her to attend church in person.

She married the love of her life Kenneth Yates Ryals on February 17, 1957. They celebrated 40 years of marriage before his passing on April 16, 1997.

She was the youngest of 5 children. All of her siblings and their spouses, Conway and Sarah Wilson, Marvin and Joann Wilson, Novis and Dan Erickson and Elray and Jody Wilson preceded her in death as did her niece Connie Wilson, brother-in-law George Williams, sister-in-law Jean (Ryals) Williams, niece Kerry Williams, and brother-in-law David Ryals.

Wanda worked at the DPS in Austin for several years. Ken and Wanda's daughter, Linda, was born in Austin in 1967. When Ken got a job in Waco, they moved back to his hometown. They moved to Hewitt in 1969 and soon afterward their son Brad was born.

Wanda had a great love for children and loved babysitting and entertaining her nieces and nephews. Because of this love of children, she began teaching preschool at Waco Christian School in 1973. She also served as the yearbook advisor at WCS before retiring from both jobs in 1988. She then became the secretary at the South Waco Church of Christ and served this congregation until May of 1998. While she was church secretary, she also taught the Tuesday morning Ladies Bible Class, the Sunday evening Children's Bible Hour, and the Sunday morning and Wednesday evening 1st grade class at South Waco Church of Christ.

She is survived by her daughter Linda (Ryals) Rose, Linda's husband John, and their son Micheal and her son Kenneth Bradley (Brad) Ryals, his wife Susan and their son Benjamin. She is also survived by her sister-in-law, Becky (Ryals) Vandiver and several nieces and nephews.

She was a great mother, memaw, aunt, friend and a beautiful, faithful Christian lady. She will be missed by all who knew and loved her.

The family would like to thank the nurses and staff of St. Anthony's Care Center, Aspen Hospice, Right at Home Health Care, and Halcyon-Reliable Home Health for their comfort and care of our loved one.