Wanda Fern Clark

Wanda Fern Grant Clark, 95, of Shawnee, Oklahoma, went home to be with the Lord on August 4, 2026. Wanda was born at home in Buffalo, Missouri, on January 14, 1931, the daughter of Floyd James and Lora Fern Grant and the premature twin sister of Warren Scott Grant. She weighed just a pound and a half at birth. To keep the tiny twins warm, they were placed together in a shoebox on the door of a wood-burning stove. When asked how the babies didn't get too hot, Wanda would remark that in those days, rural Missouri women knew how to tend a wood stove. In later years, husband Don would good-naturedly tease her about being “half-baked.” Other people would remark that God must have wanted Wanda to live.

Wanda and Warren grew up on a farm north of Buffalo. As preacher's kids, they sometimes tested boundaries. Their father Floyd taught Warren not to fight, but never thought to give Wanda the same instruction. When bullies picked on her brother, little Wanda defended him by kicking their shins. She was adventurous and liked to jump out of trees, but her father had to ban her from jumping out of the barn loft.

The family later moved to Roswell, New Mexico, where their father continued in ministry. Faith and music were woven into Wanda's life from an early age. In her father's church, Wanda and Warren played the organ together, with Warren managing the pedals because Wanda could not reach them, while Wanda played the keys. Although she and Warren eventually lived in different states, they remained close throughout their lives, talking on the phone almost daily for many years. When Wanda spoke about her childhood, she always used the pronoun “we.”

The twins attended Central Bible College in Springfield, Missouri, where Wanda earned a three-year diploma in Bible as Warren was preparing to enter ministry. During her college years, she planned to become a missionary and had intended to continue into a fourth year, but when her grandmother needed care, Wanda returned to New Mexico, leaving her brother behind, so the family could provide for her. Much later, she studied music education for two years at Oklahoma Baptist University.

Wanda met Donald (Don) Clark at a youth rally, where she and her friends had gone with hopes of meeting some servicemen. Brother Clark, a handsome young sergeant, was asked to come to the stage to sing. Don announced that he needed a pianist. Wanda's friends pointed toward her, and she went to the stage to accompany him. They married February 6, 1954, at First Baptist Church in Alamogordo, New Mexico, where Wanda's father officiated and Warren accompanied her down the aisle.

In the early years of their marriage, they moved frequently as Don pursued his education and began his career as a voice professor, early on living in a trailer with their firstborn, David. Four children later, Wanda typed multiple versions of Don's doctoral dissertation on a typewriter.

Wanda embraced motherhood with devotion, humor, and practical wisdom. Their daughter Donna was a special-needs child, and Wanda and Don met that challenge with faith and grace. After sons Paul and Ken were born, Wanda was caring for three children in diapers, one of them Donna, who required extra attention and surgeries. Donna was the family's songbird and brought great joy to everyone. In 1967, Don was hired to teach at OBU and the family moved to Shawnee. Soon after, Sharon was born, and Donna, then nine, moved to a special-needs school at the insistence of her doctors. At this time, Wanda began working full-time.

For many years, she served as assistant to the Dean of Fine Arts at Oklahoma Baptist University. She later managed the office of Shawnee Anesthesiology and worked for Dr. John Robinson as an ophthalmic technician and assistant. She also briefly served as Christian Education Director at First Presbyterian Church, where the family had worshiped for many years. Wanda was an elder there, and Don directed the music.

Although Wanda's life took a different path from the missionary work she once envisioned, she developed a quiet ministry of her own. The boldness she showed as a child stayed with her throughout her life. She had the courage to engage with people who were struggling or less fortunate. Even in her final years, Wanda sometimes approached strangers, took their hands, and told them that God loved them. Her children witnessed the profound impact these encounters could have. More than once, they heard a stranger respond with something like, “God sent you to me today. I needed to hear that.”

Wanda was known for her hospitality, wit, and ability to find humor in the ordinary. Asked how she managed five children when just one could wear a parent out, Wanda would say, “You're just as tired, but you spread it around!”

Don and Wanda's marriage was rooted in shared faith, music, family, and a genuine enjoyment of one another. They enjoyed traveling internationally, often combining their adventures with Don's musical performances and teaching. Even in their golden years, Wanda might call to Don, “Donald, come look at the sun!” They held hands and kissed at home, watched birds and squirrels in the yard, enjoyed the beach when visiting California, and watched television together before bed, often giggling at things they found funny. They remained active in the Shawnee community into their 90s.

Music remained part of Wanda's life to the very end. She accompanied Don's voice students until she was 90 and played the piano almost daily until four days before her passing.

Wanda lived her ninety-five years with deep faith, a generous heart, and a delight in the people God placed in her life. She gave thanks in all things, loved generously, served faithfully, and leaves behind a family shaped by her faith, her music, her compassion, and her love.

Wanda is survived by her children, David Clark and his wife, Elizabeth; Paul Clark and his wife, Brenda; Ken Clark and his wife, Kelly; and Sharon Jackson; her grandchildren, Jonathan Clark, Katherine Fisher, Stephen Clark, Madison Miller, Kevin Clark, Danielle Barnhart, and Kathryn Barryrodriguez; and her great-grandchildren, Aidan Achurra, Kyson Clark, Kennedy Fisher, and Adelyn Fisher. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Donna Fern Clark; her husband, Don, in 2022; her twin brother, Warren, in 2022; and her parents, Floyd and Lora Grant.

Friends and loved ones may pay their respects at Walker Funeral & Cremation Service on Sunday, August 16, 2026 from 1:00-5:00 p.m. with the family present to greet friends from 3:00-5:00 p.m. A Celebration of Wanda's Life will be held Monday, August 17, at 10:00 a.m., at Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Shawnee. 

For those unable to attend, the ceremony will be livestreamed and available later at https://www.youtube.com/@EECShawnee. Wanda will be laid to rest next to her beloved husband Donald Tuesday, August 18th, 10:00 a.m., at Oaklawn Cemetery, Sulphur, Oklahoma.

Arrangements are under the direction of Walker Funeral & Cremation Service.