BURGESS, Wanda

The White Mountain Independent, Show Low, Arizona ~ March 10, 2008 Wanda Burgess quietly died March 1, 2008, at her assisted facility in Santa Rosa, Calif., the only child of William and Sara Howe. Wanda was born Oct. 4, 1920, in Byars, Okla. Shortly thereafter, the family moved to Arizona and eventually settled in Springerville where Wanda grew up and attended school. She finished high school in Texas and returned to Arizona for a short time before returning to Texas State College for Women in Denton, Texas, earning a bachelor's degree in sociology and social work. Returning to Arizona, Wanda worked for the State Welfare Department before marrying Ryan Branham. After WW II, the couple lived in Phoenix and raised a family of two sons, Charles and Gary. After divorcing in the mid-1960s, Wanda went back to school and earned a master's degree in social work and returned to work for the State Welfare Department as a specialist in child protective services in Phoenix, Flagstaff and eventually in Tucson. In the late 60s she ran into Larry Burgess, an old high school friend, and eventually they married. Upon her retirement from the welfare department Wanda and Larry returned to the White Mountains and built a house in Nutrioso. They said they never felt very comfortable when they were away from the White Mountains, and were happy to finally be back home. After Larry's death Wanda remained in Nutrioso, coming into Springerville for volunteer work with the White Mountain Hospital Auxiliary and as a CASA volunteer, representing the interests of abused and abandoned children. She also worked to help establish the Alpine Community Presbyterian Church, which she attended until ill health forced her to go to the lowlands of Tucson. After a few years she wanted to be nearer to her sons and so she moved to Santa Rosa, Calif., where she died of old age. Wanda enjoyed hiking, fishing and boating with Larry on the lakes of Northern Arizona and New Mexico. She said she was just an Arizona girl and happiest when she could be in the White Mountains. She leaves behind her sons, Chuck Branham of Bainbridge Island, Wash., and Gary Branham of Healdsburg, Calif., and granddaughter Allison Branham of Seattle, Wash.