Wanda Lou Benard was born on Sunday, April 24, 1938 in Fallis, OK, and passed from this life into the waiting arms of Jesus and her precious husband Webster Benard on Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026 in Fresno, CA, at the age of 88.
Born as the third child to Phillip and Dorothy Ross — a young couple struggling to farm the dry red dirt of Agra, OK, in the aftermath of the Dust Bowl — Wanda loved the simple, carefree joy of rural life surrounded by a large and loving extended family and the steady drone of barnyard animals. Sadly, while still a young girl, her parents — like many others living in the south central U.S. during that time — were eventually forced to sell off what was left of their beleaguered homestead and relocate westward to California in the early 1940s, in search of steady work and a fresh start. Ironically, they eventually settled in another small farming community called Madera where she would spend the rest of her life.
In time, Wanda adapted well to her new surroundings and gradually grew up to be a lovely and engaging young lady, yet with a fiery spirit fueled and accentuated by her striking red hair. Before long, she caught the attention of another former Oklahoman — a tall, lean, ruggedly handsome, no nonsense, dark-haired young airman named Webster Benard. With that, they began dating whenever he was on leave, fell deeply in love (despite the distance), and were married not long after she graduated from high school and he rotated out of the Air Force in 1956.
Following a heartbreaking miscarriage, three children arrived — a boy and two girls. And while it was always a struggle financially, she never failed to fill their home with faith, love and laughter — which she had learned long ago were riches far exceeding even the greatest material wealth. Moreover, she always managed to work part-time to help make ends meet — ultimately landing a wonderful job as a teacher’s aide at Millview Elementary where she helped shape countless young lives before retiring in 1998.
Above all else, Wanda was a woman of deep, abiding faith. It began as a young girl when her mother became very ill and was near death. In response, she pledged to God in prayer that she would always attend church herself and also raise her future children to know and serve Him if He would just spare her mother. In His mercy and providence, God did exactly that, and so Wanda began keeping her promise. Through the years, she slowly developed a deeper understanding of the Lord, His Word, and His marvelous grace manifested through Christ, culminating in a tearful surrender of her own life to Him in 1981. Not long after, her three children (whom she had indeed taken to church when young and later brought back as adults) also came to saving faith and were baptized, followed lastly by her lifelong evangelism project and dearest love, Web. Today, that same legacy continues on through her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and prayerfully many generations to come.
Wanda was preceded in death by her parents, Phillip and Dorothy Ross, brothers Jimmy and Billy Ross (and son David), and of course her beloved husband Webster Benard. She is survived by her brother Charles Ross of Rowlett, TX (and family); sister Delores Sanchez of Madera, CA (and family); son Barry Benard (and wife Tricia) of Abilene, TX; daughter Denise Schoettler (and husband Matt) of Chowchilla, CA; and daughter Cynthia Beakes of Madera, CA. She is also survived by her grandchildren Stephen Schoettler of Chowchilla, CA; Kelsey Mehrten (and husband Alec) of Temple, TX; Kristen Schoettler of Los Angeles, CA; Cortney King (and husband Jared) of Madera, CA; Phillip Benard of Abilene, TX; Taylor Beakes (and wife Michelle) of Fresno, CA; and Jackson Benard of Abilene, TX; as well as great-grandchildren Emmett Schoettler of Madera, CA; Hudson, Parker, and Landon King of Madera, CA; Smith and Reese Mehrten of Temple, TX; and Bennett Beakes of Fresno, CA.
She will be greatly missed — but only until we are reunited in Christ (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18).
At this time, the family would like to acknowledge and offer our heartfelt gratitude to the staff and administration of Hand In Hand Care Home of Fresno who watched over and loved Wanda to the very end through her Alzheimer’s. Thank you!