Wanda Lea Dodson passed away after a long illness on the morning of October 23, 2020. She was born on May 19, 1932, in rural Newton County, George, Arkansas.

Wanda began her schooling in a one-room schoolhouse, but her parents wanted the best education for their daughter. They sent her to School of the Ozarks High School. After graduation, she attended nursing training in St. Louis, Missouri and became a registered nurse. Wanda began her career in the emergency room at Baptist Hospital in Springfield, MO. She then held several positions in the healthcare industry. Her final location was Fair Grove Schools as their school nurse. She retired from Fair Grove Schools to spend more time with her grandchildren. Grandma Wanda loved taking them on hikes. With her husband Bill, they went on many memorable trips to Silver Dollar City and Rockaway Beach. Her three grand-kids enjoyed swimming in a neighbor’s pool at the Rockaway Beach lake home, walking down for ice cream and going to the public dock to fish with Papa Bill.

Wanda was preceded in death by her parents, Neubern Clay and Lucy Agnes Allred; her husband, James William (Bill) Dodson; and her oldest son, James Michael (Mike) Dodson. She is survived by her son, Timothy Clay Dodson, his wife Sharon, and three grandchildren: Kayce Knaup, her husband Ben; Clay Dodson, his wife Elissa; and Kate Quinn. Wanda also had eight great-grandchildren: Margaret Dodson (12), William Dodson (11), Amelia Dodson (9), Kathryn Knaup (9), Susannah Dodson (7), Jack Knaup (7), Harriet Dodson (5), and Clyde Dodson (4).

There are many memorable moments in the life of Wanda L. Dodson. Wanda and her husband were long-time members of Pleasant Home Baptist Church near their home north of Springfield. Wanda and Bill also traveled extensively. The grandchildren loved receiving postcards in the mail from the places they visited.

Wanda will be laid to rest with her late husband in the Springfield National Cemetery. The memorial service will be held on Wednesday, October 28, 2020, at the National Cemetery. Family has requested that memorials be made in Wanda’s name to either the Alzheimer’s Association or the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW).