OBITUARY – WANDA LEE

Wanda Lee, 90, of Denton, Texas, passed from this world into the next on September 4, 2010, at her residence. She was born February 10, 1920, to George M. and Gladys (Schafer) Paullins, in a farmhouse on the farm of her grandfather near Grandview, Iowa. Her family moved to nearby Ryan, Iowa shortly thereafter where she lived until her school years. She then moved to Manchester, Iowa where she learned to be a medical and dental assistant for a pair of brothers. In 1941, while working there she met a dean of a local college who had come in for a draft physical. The dean, Orville Eckberg, was younger than she expected him to be and they struck up a friendship which was to last for the next forty years as they were married approximately two years later. Her new husband was sent overseas to North Africa and Italy during World War II within weeks of their marriage. During his absence she worked as a bookkeeper at a defense plant in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. After more than two years of separation, when he returned safely from the war, they began a family and ultimately had five children. She accompanied her husband and family during years in the military and lived in San Antonio, Texas, Germany and Washington, D.C. during his years in the military. She lost her first husband, Orville, in 1981 and remained widowed for about ten years before she was wedded to her second husband, a long time friend and former brother-in-law, Lloyd Lee, of Muscatine, Iowa. She and Lloyd lived very happily in Muscatine for 17 years until his death in 2008. She then moved to Denton, Texas to be closer to her children and resided at The Vintage until her death. Wanda's family always came first in her life, and she loved her children and their spouses, her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, always greeted them lovingly. She was a lifelong member of the church, no matter where in the world her husband's career took them and she supported the church in many ways. She also loved watching sports on television, including golf, and football--especially when the Dallas Cowboys or Green Bay Packers were playing. And—believe it nor not—she loved to watch the Chicago Cubs play baseball. She was a very competitive game player and enjoyed just about any form of card games, especially bridge. She is survived by three sons: David Eckberg and wife Kathy of Denton, Texas; Douglas Eckberg and wife Rose-Ellen of Rock Hill, SC; and Daniel Eckberg and wife Susie of Grapevine, Texas; and two daughters: Diane (Dee) Benge and husband Larry of Crockett, Texas; and Debra Schnack and husband Robert of Sacramento, California. She also is survived by three step-children: Tom Lee and wife Mary of The Villages, Florida; Dick Lee and wife Pam of Letts, Iowa; and a step-daughter Peg Colton and husband Dave of Muscatine, Iowa and a brother Lonnie Paullins and wife Donna of Marion, Iowa. She also leaves behind her ten grandchildren and four great-grandchildren who she loved very deeply. We will all miss her broad, friendly smile which she shared with everyone she met. A memorial service is planned to be held at The Vintage on September 8th at 4:00 p.m. with Reverend Lisa Marshall officiating. Interment will be held with her first husband at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio on September 10th at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to her favorite charity, the Salvation Army.