Wanda Ruth Rushing

After a long life devoted to her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Wanda passed peacefully in her sleep on Tuesday, Feb. 03, 2026. Wanda entered this life in humble beginnings on July 01, 1932 born to Nola B. (Beck) Teston and Raymond Gaylord Teston in the farming community of Cap Rock Texas. After her parents’ divorce, Nola moved Wanda and her brother Warren to San Angelo Texas. During the spring of 1942, Nola married Thomas “Buddy” Lyles. Wanda’s sister Nona was born that winter to complete the family. During this formative time, Wanda accepted Jesus as her Savior, excelled in school and developed a strong work ethic. Wanda graduated from Central High School at the age of 16 in 1948. In the DECA program at Central, she learned valuable skills in bookkeeping, key boarding and selling merchandise.

In the spring of 1950, Wanda met the love of her life, Avon Rushing. After a brief courtship, Avon and Wanda were united in marriage on July 19, 1950. They were happily married for almost 71 years separated by his death in April, 2021. They remained in San Angelo where Wanda devoted herself to Avon, her two children Randy and Debbie and working as time permitted to supplement their income and various school and church activities for her children.

After school was out in the spring of 1961, Avon’s job for the Santa Fe Railroad took the family to Snyder, Texas. A house was purchased on 36th Street and life began anew with block parties, water skiing adventures at Lake Thomas, school activities including sports, music, band and twirling and abundant life from their new church Calvary Baptist Church. Wanda accepted her new home with great enthusiasm and the model of the woman described in Proverbs 31. Wanda learned to sew and made numerous tops, pants, skirts and dresses for herself and Debbie. Her cooking skills were well known by her family and many others on the block and church including coconut cream pie, peanut butter cookies, fried apricot pies, Italian cream cake and numerous other delights.

Wanda began her career outside of the home when she went to work for the Snyder Daily News as a typesetter in the mid 1960’s. Later, her skills as a writer were developed in being promoted to Assistant Editor. Her weekly column “My Turn” was read by many where funny family antidotes and much common sense were dispensed with ease and wit. During the 1970’s Wanda was blessed with her two grandchildren Shawn and Andrea. She easily fell in love and much devotion was shown to each. As empty nesters, Avon and Wanda began to travel more. Obviously to see the grands but also to many Dallas Cowboy games in Irving Texas and later to international sites in Costa Rica, Europe, Canada and cruising to Alaska and Mexico. Wanda transitioned from the newspaper industry to the judicial system and began to work as a secretary to Justice of the Peace helping to keep her beloved Scurry County and Snyder Texas organized. In 1992, Wanda was rewarded by her county and was elected as Justice of the Peace for one term before her retirement in 1996.

As the new millennium began and full retirement for Avon and Wanda, aging and health problems began. Wanda began to feel the effects of rheumatoid arthritis. Wanda found help in medication, knowledgeable doctors, much prayer and a strong will to never stop moving. Oversea trips stopped but several trips to Branson and many card and domino games with friends became the norm. Church activities, constant baking, now trips to visit great-grands, several joint replacement surgeries with rehab, a heart attack and open-heart surgery for Avon and now visiting several homebound widows kept Wanda’s days full and smiling and oven hot with fresh baked goodies for all in need.

After Avon died in the spring of 2021 and her failing strength, Wanda moved to The Court Independent Living facility in Round Rock Texas to be closer to Debbie and Bruce in Georgetown. Randy and Martha were just up the road in Arlington. This past summer, Wanda moved to Georgetown Nursing Home and Transitional Care. The family wants to thank the residents, custodial and medical staff at these facilities for their care of Mother over the course of the past several years.

Wanda is survived by her son Randy and wife Martha of Arlington TX. Her daughter Debbie and husband Bruce Almond of Georgetown TX. Her grandson Shawn Almond of The Woodlands TX. Her granddaughter Andrea and husband Craig Nell of Lubbock. Her granddaughter in law Jaime Almond of The Woodlands TX. Five great-grandchildren Austin and wife Eliot Almond of Georgetown TX, Allie and husband Patrick Lynn of Weatherford TX, Autumn Almond of The Woodlands TX, Albany Almond of The Woodlands TX and Raegan Bodine of Lubbock TX. Her bonus grandson Ryan Due and his wife Beatrice and children Jonah, Hannah and Noah all of Bedford TX and bonus granddaughter Angela Miller and husband Tim and children Carlee, Pierce and Graham all of Lubbock TX. Sister Nona Wallace of Miles TX and brother Warren Teston of Amarillo TX and many cousins, nephews, nieces and friends.

Wanda was preceded in death by her parents Nola Lyles, Raymond Teston, step father Thomas Lyles, husband Avon and daughter in law Susan Rushing.

A funeral service for Mrs. Rushing will be held at 10 AM, Saturday, February 7, 2026, at Calvary Baptist Church of Snyder, with Pastor Larry McAden officiating. Burial will follow at Hillside Memorial Gardens. Arrangements are under the direction of Bell-Cypert-Seale Funeral Home.A visitation will be held from 6-7 PM Friday, February 06, 2026, at Bell-Cypert-Seale Funeral Home.

Donations may be made to the:

Arthritis Foundation Northwest Texas Chapter

3001 West 5th Street

Fort Worth, Texas 76107

Calvary Baptist Church

2405 35th St,

Snyder, Texas 79549