Wanda Bond

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Wanda Jean Bond, 80, of Stigler passed away Friday, July 24, 2020 in Mercy Hospital in Ft. Smith, Ark. She was born Aug. 6, 1939 in Stigler, to Betty Agnes, Ritch Harrell and Earl Ritch.

Wanda met a young man that stole her heart while they were attending Perry School. They met each other by Arley driving his brother’s hot rod, a 1950, four door coupe, and running through a mud hole and threw mud all over her new coat. His brother Lenard set them up on a date. But just look what happened! Marriage! Arley and Wanda were married on Oct. 25, 1956.

Wanda and Arley have always been in some type of business. Wanda had a great love for their B & B Trading Post and Bait Shop on 2nd St. that was started in 1966 in Stigler. The fishermen would drive miles to buy her tackle and minnows because they said, “her bait would live longer than anyone’s.”

Wanda loved the Lord very much. She belonged the Pentecostal Holiness Church which she helped build the new church in 1961. Years later it had the name changed to the River of Life Church. Wanda took great pride in her church and she could always find a job that needed to be done.

While battling cancer the last two years she never gave up and still never met a stranger. Helping people was her passion.

Wanda loved her family and adored her grandchildren.

Wanda is survived by the love of her life, her husband of 63 years, Arley Bond of the home; a daughter and son-in-law, Catherine and Randall Underwood of Stigler; a son and daughter-in-law, Billy and Patricia Bond of Muskogee; two grandchildren, Robby White of Stigler, Jennifer and Christopher Kimbrell of Broken Arrow; a half-sister, Towanna Kerklin; two half-brothers, Otis Ritch of Stigler and David Ritch of Las Vegas, NV.; two first cousins, Dale Hurt of Jacksonville, Fla., Kay Webb of Stigler and numerous nieces and nephews.

Preceeded in death by her parents, Earl Ritch and Agnes Harrell; maternal grandparents, Amos and Hattie Harrell; paternal grandparents, William Jasper and Dovie Ritch.

Funeral services were held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 29, 2020 at the River of Life Church with Pastor Jack Sloan officiating. Eulogist was the Reverend Blake Baily. Pallbearers include Randall Underwood, Robby White, John Deromanis, Kevin Wilkett, Marcus Lerklin and Linton Gorman.

Burial followed to Garland Cemetery under the direction of King & Shearwood Funeral Home of Stigler.

Stigler News-Sentinel

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