Wanda Belle (Rowe) Yancey
Obituary

Wanda Belle (Rowe) Yancey passed from this life on July 5, 2026, in Galveston, TX. Wanda was born to Arter Vinson and Lonie Estelle (Hasley) Rowe on September 2, 1940, in Emmett, Arkansas. She met and married Richard Edwin Yancey while attending Louisiana Polytechnic Institute in Ruston, Louisiana, on June 14, 1958. They had two children, Cynthia and Richard Edwin, Jr., while Richard was completing his education, then moved to Houston, where they welcomed their son Michael. In 1963, Richard was transferred to Esso Libya in Benghazi, Libya, and Wanda and the children joined him there. They later moved to Tripoli, where their youngest son Johnathan was born. During their years in the Middle East, they traveled extensively throughout Africa and Europe before returning to the United States in 1970 and settling in Friendswood, Texas, for twenty-two years and later moved to Clear Lake City.

Wanda worked for Friendswood Independent School District for sixteen years, first as Secretary to the Superintendent and later as Director of Communications and Administrative Services. She and Richard were deeply involved in their children’s many activities, and she lovingly supported her family in all they chose to do. Wanda had great depth of character, a generous capacity for love, a passion for life, and compassion for all who crossed her path. She enjoyed gardening, writing stories and poetry, working on family histories, and planning special celebrations. A lifelong member of the Church of Christ, she loved God with devotion and trusted Him through every season of life and prayed daily for peace and harmony in her family and the world. She was strong in her convictions and stood up for what she believed was right. Her courage was especially evident after Richard, her beloved husband of thirty-six years, was killed in an automobile accident on November 26, 1994. She moved forward, keeping Richard always in her heart.

Preceded in death by her parents, brother Billy Dave Rowe, and husband Richard, Wanda is survived by her four beloved children, Cynthia Walston, Richard Yancey, Jr., Michael Yancey, and Johnathan Yancey; daughters-in-law Deborah Yancey and Martha Yancey; seven grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and many in-laws, nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family, and friends.

In celebration of Wanda’s life, a private Celebration of Life at Grace Presbyterian Church.