Wanda June (Lafollette) Sandy, of Stephens City, VA passed away peacefully at Hidden Springs Senior Living in Bentonville, VA, on Monday, October 9, 2023.

A visitation will be held on Wednesday, October 18, 2023, from 7pm to 9pm with a memorial service and reception on Thursday, October 19, 2023, at 1pm, all held at Omps Funeral Home, Amherst Chapel, with Reverend Nathan Robinson officiating. Interment will follow at Green Hill Cemetery in Stephens City.

Wanda was born on November 12, 1933 in Winchester, VA to Mildred Catherine (Lewis) Lafollette and Alston Richard Lafollette. She attended James Wood High School and was in the first graduating class in 1952. She married Charles “Charlie” Russell Sandy, Sr. when she was only 17 years old and moved to the Sandy’s family farm in Stephens City, where they raised their family of three sons and celebrated 53 loving years before her husband’s death in 2004. Wanda had an entrepreneurial spirit and while operating the White Oak Trading Post in Stephens City, VA, was instrumental in creating the associated campground. Early in her career, Wanda worked for the Town of Stephens City, National Fruit, and Frederick County Extension Office before pursuing a Nursing Degree from Shenandoah University in 1971. She went on to work for Winchester Memorial Hospital as an Orthopedic Nurse and rose quickly to Shift Supervisor. She then furthered her education later in her career by earning both her Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Nursing at Shenandoah University and held positions in Quality and Risk Management. After retiring from Valley Health in 1999, she returned part time in 2004 as a Patient Advocate for several years.
Outside of her career, Wanda enjoyed traveling with family and friends, as well as painting, and had an interest in literature, which led her to start a novel which was unfortunately never completed. She was a past Chapter President aka “Queen Mother” of the Fun Loving Red Hatters Club of Stephens City for many years and enjoyed entertaining and attending social events. She was very welcoming to anyone she met and was a mother figure and role model not only to her younger siblings and children, but also to many youths whom she took under her wing. She was not only a Girl Scout Leader, but a Boy Scout Leader. She was a Member of the Opequon Saddle Club, along with Charlie and the boys. She and Charlie loved playing Santa and Mrs. Santa at the hospital, passing out toys and good wishes to the patients staying there during the Christmas holidays. Wanda was a force to be reckoned with and always a class act. She was resilient, determined, intelligent, beautiful, and a true matriarch of the family who was loved dearly and respected by so many.

Wanda is preceded in death by her parents, husband, and daughter in law, Ellen M. Sandy. She is survived by her sons, Charles Russell “Rusty” Sandy (Susan), Jr, Kenneth Thomas Sandy (Bonnie), and Timothy Alston Sandy, Sr. (Debbra), seven grandchildren, Alanna Jenkins (Nick), Brian Sandy (Caroline), Karen Bradley, Michelle Broadstreet, Jennifer Cooper (Titus), Timothy A. Sandy, Jr. (Michelle), and Hannah Sandy, her sisters Bonnie Hall and Lanette Rhodes (Robbie) and brother, Richard “Dickie” Lafollette (Mary Jo), eleven great grandchildren, one great-great grandchild, and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Pallbearers will be Nick Jenkins, Brian Sandy, Trevor Adams, Titus Cooper, Tim Sandy Jr., Blake Sandy, Chase Jenkins, Joe Lewis and Scott Russell.

Honorary Pallbearers will be Alanna Jenkins, Karen Bradley, Caroline Sandy, Jennifer Cooper, Michelle Broadstreet, Hannah Sandy and Michelle Sandy.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in memory of Wanda to, Dementia Research at Dementia Society of America, P.O. Box 600, Doylestown, PA 18901 or a charity of the donor’s choice.