Wanda C. Hudnall

Wanda Hudnall passed away Friday, April 22, 2011 at her residence at Solterra of The White Mountains in Lakeside, Navajo County, Arizona. She was 87 years old. Wanda was born the 3rd of 8 children on July 26, 1923 in the town of Ozark, Franklin County, Arkansas to the late Frank Cheatham and Mamie Owens Cheatham. As a teenager, Wanda moved to California in 1940 and worked in the naval shipyards as a "Rosie the Riveter Girl" during World War II, proudly fulfilling her part of the war effort. Wanda met her future husband, Albert Burke "Bill" Hudnall during the war and they were married on January 2, 1946 in Reno, Washo County, Nevada. Bill preceded her in death on March 1, 2005 after 59 years of marriage together. Wanda and Bill were the proud parents of 2 children: Phyllis Ann Casillas and Burke Hudnall. Not only was Wanda a devoted wife to her husband and loving mother to her children, she, too, was a doting grandmother to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. They all brought her so much joy and she always looked forward to spending time with them. Wanda even sacrificed her time time to help raise 4 of her granddaughters: Julia, Jeanie, Allison and Rhonda. It was a sacrifice she truly considered a privilege and she was extremely grateful for the opportunity to help them grow into accomplished young women. Wanda enjoyed many activities. She loved camping and fishing in the White Mountains as well as at Roosevelt Lake. She also thoroughly enjoyed exploring ghost towns and was always on the lookout for the old bottles that could be found there. She was an avid hunter of arrowheads and enjoyed every adventure she had in searching for them. Wanda also took great pride in her home and yard. Wanda is survived by her son, Burke Hudnall of Snowflake, Arizona; 1 brother, Mack Cheatham of San Leandro, California; 2 sisters: Ava (Les) Bowden of Russellville, Arkansas, Gena Faye Thomas of Tulsa, Oklahoma; 7 grandchildren: Deanna (Jorge Marquez) Casillas, Rhonda Brown, Julia Casillas, Jeanie Casillas, Sgt. Jeremiah (Mary Elizabeth Hojek) Hudnall, USMC, Allison Hudnall, Amanda Hudnall; 3 great-grandchildren: Tyler Brown, Riley Shea Hudnall, Monica Marquez as well as several nieces and nephews. Along with her husband, Wanda was preceded in death by her daughter, Phyllis Ann Casillas on September 17, 1994; 4 sisters: Olla Thornton, Reba Phillips, Ethel Hicks and Ruth Earwood. Wanda will be dearly missed by her family as well as the many friends whose lives she so tenderly touched. All are warmly invited to a public visitation 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M., Tuesday, April 26, 2011 at Owens Livingston Mortuary - Heritage Chapel, 84 E. 19th South in Snowflake, Arizona. The funeral service will begin 10:00 A.M., Wednesday, April 27, 2011, also at Owens Livingston Mortuary - Heritage Chapel. The concluding service and interment will immediately follow at the R.V. "Mike" Ramsay Memorial Cemetery in Snowflake, Arizona. Memorial contributions in Wanda's name to the American Cancer Society P.O. Box 22718, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73123-1718 or to the White Mountain Hospice Foundation, P.O. Box 1975, Lakeside, Arizona 85929 have been suggested by her family.