Dec 18, 2019

Wanda O. Walsh | 1936 - 2019 |

Posted Dec 18, 2019 5:14 AM

Wanda O. Walsh, 83, passed away Friday, December 13, 2019 in Hutchinson KS.

Wanda was born January 1, 1936 in Gassville, AR, the daughter of Ray Lavon and Zona Gail (Stahlman) Pruitt. On September 1, 1957 she married John “Richard” Borton at Trinity United Methodist Church, Hutchinson. Richard passed away November 5, 1970. On July 13, 1974 Wanda married Patrick A. Walsh from Des Moines, IA.

Wanda attended a one room school at Webster Country School through the 5th grade. She attended Geneseo School from 6th grade through 12th grade graduating in 1954. She then went on to Mercy School of Nursing graduating in 1957. Years later, she attended Hutchinson Community College and Wichita State University for two and half years working toward a degree in Art History.

She was a lifetime member of Beta Sigma Phi, belonged to Women’s Civic Center, Society of Decorative Painters, Order of the Eastern Star Silver Leaf Chapter 464, Daughters of the Nile, Zohar Temple #55. She taught three-year-old children at Trinity UMC for several years. She Owned and operated Borton Ceramics from 1965 to 1974. Wanda volunteered for American Red Cross Reno County and Midwest, Salvation Army, served on the board of American Red Cross and Emergency Food and Shelter board for 24 years. She was Midwest American Red Cross trained in family service, disaster, and as a volunteer consultant for the southwest corner of Kansas. Co-chairman of two regional Red Cross conventions. She worked Hurricane Allen, Wichita flooding and Hesston tornado. Wanda was also a foster parent for six years. She was awarded the Piper Award for the volunteer of the year.

Wanda enjoyed traveling with her family, in 1979 she traveled to 23 countries for two months by EURO Rail. She also traveled to Canada, Mexico, England and South Korea. She also chaperoned with Jobs Daughters to National Conventions. Wanda’s true passion was all kinds of arts & crafts, her favorites being painting, ceramics, quilting, knitting, embroidery and genealogy.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Richard, brother Donald Pruitt, sisters-in-law, Bonnie, Della and Lois Pruitt.

She is survived by her six children, Jeffery (Daisy) Borton of Hutchinson, Elizabeth (Johnathan) Moorhead of Georgetown, TX, Douglas (Lori) Borton of Hutchinson, Mary (Richard) Buller of Hutchinson, Heather Walsh of Hutchinson, Jennifer (Todd) Barnett of Salina; two brothers, Melvin and Wayne Pruitt; a sister, Virginia (Charles) Lamb; fourteen grandchildren, Latonia Burnett, Adam Borton, Christopher Moorhead, Sean Moorhead, Ana Moorhead, Courtney (Chris) Jensen, John Borton, Ada Buller, Noah Buller, Aaron Buller, Mason Buller, Emma Buller, Nick Barringer, Jena (Nik Safos) Cornell; eight great-grandchildren with one on the way, Meagan (Alex) Martinez, Timothy Hougham, Miller Hougham, Timber Baker, Hadley Jensen, Jackson Radford, Benjamin Safos, Angela Safos; three great-great grandchildren, Sophia Martinez, Giovanni Martinez, Mason Hougham.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, December 20, 2019 at Trinity United Methodist Church, 1602 N. Main, St. Hutchinson with Rev. Kim Biery officiating. Visitation will be held from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Thursday, December 19, 2019 with family present to greet friends from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Hutchinson Funeral Chapel, 300 E. 30th Ave., Hutchinson, Kansas. Burial will take place at Memorial Park Cemetery, Hutchinson.

Memorials may be given to American Red Cross, Trinity United Methodist Church and American Cancer Society. They can be sent in care of the funeral chapel.