Wanda Jo (Watkins) Kent, was born in Hayti, Missouri on June 16, 1927 to Leonard D. and Ruby Farmer Watkins of Havanna, Tennessee. She passed away peacefully in her sleep early Friday morning, May 6, 2016 at Pacific Pines Manor, Redlands California after one and half year's struggle with cancer. She was surrounded by her son, daughter in law, and Pacific Pines' caregivers who lovingly cared for her, content and comforted to the end.




Her family moved to Detroit Michigan in 1937. She graduated from Western High School in 1944 and found administrative work with doctors, attorneys and manufacturing enterprises. She met and married Alexander C. Kent in 1949. Together they had a son named Gregory A. Kent in 1955. After several years of family life in Michigan, she and her son followed Wanda's family to California in 1964. She found herself two years later in 1966 becoming the full-time secretary at Calimesa Elementary amidst a world of lost money, pet snakes, runny noses and a lot of interruptions. When retiring in July of 1986, 20 years later, she was quoted as saying in the Yucaipa & Calimesa News Mirror "I like my job, love the kids and there's never two days that are the same". In addition to working for five principals during her career at Calimesa, she was a PTA Board member, Honorary Service award recipient and an officer of the California School Employee's Association. Upon retiring she found time to volunteer at her local Lutheran church working in the office typing up the church's Sunday bulletin, and in her own terms in "Zip-it-doo-da rapid fashion." She had a fond sentiment towards the church and was also stated "Strangely enough, I love working at the church. Guess one of the biggest reason is that I feel I am doing God's work and the members really like me, and I like them."





Wanda will be forever missed by her family and loving friends. She is survived by her child: Gregory A. Kent, daughter in law Jackie, granddaughter Calleen A. (Kent) Lawrence, step-grandson Brian Swann and granddaughter Rebecca Carlson and eight great grandchildren. She loved them all.




She will be laid to rest with her mother, at Desert Lawn Memorial Park, 11251 Desert Lawn Drive, Calimesa on Friday, May 20, 2016, graveside service at 11:30 a.m. Chaplin Marc Genece will be presiding; Sunset Funeral Care of Redlands has assisted in support of the family and arrangements. For condolences and details go to their website: http://www.sunsetfuneralcare.com/obituaries/