Wanda Rae Whitis, 91, passed away June 18,2016 at an Abilene care center. viewing/visitation will be 5:00 pm, Wednesday June 22, 2016, with Funeral service following at 6:00 pm, at College View Baptist Church, Abilene Texas. Burial will be 11:00 am Thursday June 23, 2016 at Eastlawn Memorial Park, Early, Texas. Under the direction of Girdner funeral home, Abilene, Texas.
Wanda Rae Edgar was born January 20, 1925 in Brownwood Texas to Morris and Mabel (Low) Edgar. She attended Brownwood schools and graduated from Brownwood High school in 1942. She attended Draughn’s Business School in Abilene and Howard Payne College in Brownwood. She married the love of her life, Glen Whitis, August 5, 1950 and moved to Pyote, Texas, where her husband was principal and coach at Pyote High School. They lived in Monahans, Coleman and Brownwood before moving in 1970 to Abilene where her husband was the basketball coach at Hardin-Simmons University until his death in 1972.
She worked at Hardin-Simmons University as the athletic secretary until 1990 when she retired after working there for 20 years. She was an active member of College View Baptist Church.
She enjoyed being a coach’s wife, being mother to her two children and being Mimi to her three grandchildren and her precious great-granddaughter. She enjoyed watching her grandchildren in their various activities and loved watching the Spurs.
Preceding her in death were her husband, Glen of 22 years, her parents, and her brother Robert Edgar, Jr., and son-in-law O’Quinn Cairo IV.
Survivors include her two children, Robert Whitis and his wife Norma, of Hawley, Beverly Whitis and husband Dana Green, of Abilene. Three grandchildren, Billy Glen Whitis of Iowa Park, Jerrid Cairo and wife Esmeralda, and Kelsey Cairo and husband Tim. Great-grandchildren Mia Cairo, and Xander Williams. Also, Kyle Pursifull and wife Melissa, and sons Grand and Grayson of McKinney. Lindsey Severson and husband Chad and daughters Emmi and Lila of Paris, Texas, and Niece Marjean Edgar.
Memorials may be made to College View Baptist Church, PO Box 2199, Abilene, Texas 79601 or to the athletic department, Hardin-Simmons University, Abilene Texas.
