Wanda May Garwood, 81, of Olathe,KS passed away on December 8, 2013 at Kansas City Hospice House. Wanda was born on August 23, 1932 at Terlton, OK, the youngest child of John and Dena McDaniel. She graduated from Jennings High School, and Oklahoma A & M College (OSU) where she earned a B.S. degree in Business and Secretarial Administration. In the two summers prior to graduating from college, she was selected for the Naval Reserve Officers' Training in Bainbridge, Maryland, and received her commission as Ensign, U.S. Naval Reserve when she graduated from college. She was assistant Administration Officer at the Naval Air Station, Alameda, CA where she met her husband Ken Garwood. Wanda was active in the Navy Officers Wives Activities, serving as president at Olathe, and the Naval Air Station in Alameda. She was a room mother for each of her children in grade school, and served as a Band Aide for the Olathe High School band one year. She also served as secretary for her Sunday School class during one term. She was a stay-at-home mother until her youngest child was in junior high school, then she worked as a secretary/bookkeeper for Raymo Products for fourteen years, and retired from her position as office manager for Ditch Witch Sales, KC, after eight years. Wanda was also a loyal Chiefs and OSU fan. Wanda is survived by her sons John W. Garwood, Kenneth (Mike) Garwood, Don Garwood and his wife, Renee, and daughter, Gloria Sue Garwood, sister-in-law Oleta McDaniel, her sister, Fern R. Ropp, and a large and loving extended family, including her faithful dog, Mia. Also surviving are Richard Morales, Jamie Lou Whiteley, MiMi Mann and Mary E. Below, MD. She was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth Wayne Garwood, her sister, Elsie Burnside, and her brother Ernest McDaniel. Services will be held on Friday, December 13, 2013 at 2:00pm at Penwell-Gabel Funeral Home, Olathe Chapel, where the family will receive friends an hour prior to service time. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to your favorite charity . To leave a special message for the family online, please visit www.PenwellGabelOlathe.com

Published in Kansas City Star on Dec. 10, 2013