Wanda Henrietta Schrader Comstock, 100, of San Angelo, Texas, passed away on December 21, 2023. Wanda was a beloved mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, great aunt, and friend. Wanda honored God, loyalty, tradition, and education. She was a loving, thoughtful, humorous, strong-willed, and talkative woman. Wanda led a grand, full life, and she will be deeply missed.
Wanda was born on May 21, 1923 to Henry and Jessie Marie (Ferguson) Schrader in Breckenridge, Texas. Wanda grew up in McCamey, Texas, where her father owned a trucking company. Her younger brother, Gene Theodore, was born in 1931. Wanda graduated from McCamey High School in 1940 at the age of 16. She then went to Jolly Beauty School in San Angelo, and she graduated with a beauty operators’ certificate in 1941. Wanda next attended college at Sul Ross State University in Alpine, Texas. She graduated in two and a half years with a Bachelor’s degree in Education. While in college, she played alto saxophone in the dance band and enjoyed adventuring in Big Bend National Park. Wanda met her future husband while she was performing at a dance. He was a flight instructor for the Army Air Corps, and he was stationed at the Marfa Army Air Field in nearby Marfa, Texas.
On February 19, 1944, Wanda married Charles “Chick” Harrison Comstock, Jr. in Trinidad, Colorado. Wanda and Chick moved to McCamey, Texas to raise their two sons. William “Bill” Rhys was born in 1945, and John Henry was born in 1947. Wanda was a dedicated mother who always made time for her children. In McCamey, the family enjoyed outdoor activities such as fishing, camping, and rockhounding along the nearby Pecos River. They also played canasta and poker with dear family friends regularly. Chick worked as a crop duster, car salesman, and TV repairman. Wanda taught third grade at McCamey Elementary School.
In 1962, the family moved to San Angelo, Texas. Wanda continued teaching second and third grade at Alta Loma Elementary School. She worked with children that challenged other teachers, and she often taught summer school. Wanda loved telling stories about her school-teaching days. She fondly remembered many of her students even late into her life. She retired after 35 years of teaching.
Wanda welcomed two daughters-in-law into the family. John married his wife, Johnnie, in 1978, and Bill married his wife, Linda, in 1983. Wanda became a grandmother in 1981 when her granddaughter, Jana Marie (John and Johnnie), was born. A second granddaughter, Rebecca Lynn (Bill and Linda), was born in 1983. Wanda loved being a grandmother, and spent lots of time caring for her granddaughters and spoiling them. During these years, the Comstock family enjoyed time together at a lake house on Lake Nasworthy in San Angelo and at a small family ranch outside of Eden, Texas.
Wanda loved hosting family gatherings, especially for birthdays, weekly Sunday dinners, and Christmas. She cooked big meals for everyone, and her specialties were pot roast, chicken and dumplings, cakes, and pies. Wanda had quite the sweet tooth, and you could always count on a jar of fresh cookies and other sweets at her house.
In 1994, Wanda moved to Rio Concho West retirement community after Chick passed away. She cared for her father full-time once he moved in with her. He lived to be 98; longevity runs in the family. In these later years, Wanda enjoyed country line dancing, volunteering at Fort Concho, participating in social events at Rio Concho West, and working the daily crossword puzzle. She traveled and spent time with life-long best friends and neighbors Fred “Freddie” and Lloyd “Mac” McKinney. She also took many family vacations in the western states with John, Johnnie, and Jana. Wanda was an avid reader and always had a book by her side, especially western fiction novels. Wanda had a passion for all things Western, and she was fascinated by Native American and cowboy history.
Wanda celebrated her 100th birthday this May at The Springs Memory Care facility with friends, family, and caregivers. She was honored by letters of congratulations for becoming a centenarian from the United States President, the Texas Governor, and other local organizations. Her longevity was astounding, and her honors were beyond well-deserved.
Wanda is predeceased by her father, Henry Schrader (1996); mother, Jessie Schrader (1973); husband, Charles “Chick” Comstock (1992); son, William “Bill” Comstock (1997); brother, Gene Schrader (2022); and great-granddaughter, Briella Bennett (2021).
Wanda is survived and lovingly missed by her son John Comstock and wife Johnnie Comstock of San Angelo, Texas; granddaughter Jana Comstock and husband Dustin Bennett of Santa Fe, New Mexico; granddaughter Rebecca Comstock of Big Spring, Texas; great-grandson Kellan Bennett of Santa Fe, New Mexico; and dear nephews and a niece.
The family would like to thank the staff at The Springs Memory Care and Hospice of San Angelo for the kindness and care shown to Wanda.
The Celebration of Life will be on Wednesday, December 27, 2023, at 11:00 AM at Harper Funeral Home in San Angelo, Texas. A graveside blessing will take place following the service at Fairmount Cemetery.
In remembrance of Wanda’s life, the family asks that any charitable donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Association (alz.org) or Alzheimer’s Texas (txalz.org).
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