Wanda Lou Cunningham Irwin went to her heavenly home Friday, April 23, 2021 at the age of 91. She was born in Nocona on July 22, 1929 to Newell and Allie “Owl” Cunningham. Wanda attended Prairie Valley School her entire childhood. She graduated as Salutatorian in 1947, having never missed a day of school. She attended North Texas State University and graduated after three years of study with a BS in Education. She taught PE for 22 years before getting her library certification in 1971. She was a librarian in Wichita Falls for nine years working at Jefferson Elementary and Huey Elementary. She retired from Lamar Elementary in 1980 after 31 years in education.

Wanda married Don Irwin in May 1958 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. They were married 32 years. She is survived by her son Marty Irwin and wife Stacy of Thorndale, daughter Mitzi Hallmark and husband Ed of Nocona, grandchildren Brandon Irwin and wife Britani, Dillon Irwin, Cooper Crum, Madison Crum, Montana Hallmark and Joshua Hallmark. She had one beautiful great-granddaughter, Edyn Grace Irwin. She was also survived by many treasured cousins, nieces, nephews and special friends. The family wants to thank our cousin, Hettie Hughes Standley, for leaving her family in Missouri and living with Mom the last couple of years. This allowed her to return to her childhood home and live out her life in Nocona. We are all very grateful to her.  She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Thomas Clayton “TC”, her grandparents Ben and Effie (Bouldin) Cunningham and Phillip and Hettie (Carroll) Hughes.

Wanda enjoyed playing and watching games so much! Anytime her grandkids were playing sports, she made every effort to attend and support them. That made her a #1 fan of Hallsburg Elementary, Thorndale ISD, Riesel ISD and Howard Payne University. She also enjoyed watching Baylor, Texas Tech, the Dallas Cowboys and the Texas Rangers. She was always ready for a card, 42 or game of chance, too. Marty and Mitzi have many happy memories of playing cards with their fun-loving Hughes cousins in Wichita Falls most Friday nights growing up.

There will be a visitation Tuesday, April 27th from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. at Jerry Woods Funeral Home chapel in Nocona. A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, April 28th at 2:00 p.m. at First United Methodist Church in Nocona with pastor Curt Simmons officiating. Internment will follow at Nocona Cemetery. Pall Bearers will be the grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Prairie Valley ISD Scholarship Fund. The family wants to thank the doctors and nurses at Nocona General Hospital for giving Wanda quality, compassionate and loving care.