Wanda Lou McClanahan Baker, age 84, of Grundy, exchanged her earthly home for her Heavenly home on Monday, October 17, 2022. Wanda was born on August 31, 1938, to Hatler and Nobie McClanahan of Grundy, Virginia. She was a retired school teacher, having worked as a teacher’s aide and then taking night classes to further her education and obtain her degree from Pikeville College. She was very proud of this accomplishment. She taught school at both Harman Elementary School and P.V. Dennis Elementary School before retiring in 1994. She loved her students, and always enjoyed meeting them in the community years after she had been their teacher. Wanda loved arranging flowers, especially for her home, and shared her talents with many friends.
Wanda is survived by her loving and devoted husband, James Edward (Jim) Baker, of Grundy, Virginia, to whom she had been married for 66 years, as well as two daughters, Susan Raines (Bill) of Grundy, Virginia, and Tammy Edwards (Rick) of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, one brother, Jackie McClanahan (Barbara), of Harman, Virginia, and one sister, Vicki VanMeter (Hoss) of Vansant, Virginia. She is also survived by four grandchildren, Courtney Harris (Joey), Whitney Leonard (Jordan), Colby Raines, and Sam Raines (Kelly) and five great-grandchildren, as well as three nephews, David McClanahan, Teddy McClanahan, and Chris Runyon.
Wanda was a member of Harman Freewill Baptist Church, where she proudly began a “Pennies from Heaven” project, whereby every penny found was saved and donated, to be used for special projects at the church.
Funeral services for Wanda will be held at Virginia Funeral Home Chapel, Grundy, Virginia, on Saturday, October 22, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. with Eddie Wilson officiating with entombment to follow at Mountain Valley Memorial Park, Big Rock, Virginia. The family will receive friends on Friday evening, October 21, beginning at 6:00 p.m., with a short song service beginning 7:00 p.m. at Virginia Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Joey Harris, Jordan Leonard, Teddy McClanahan, David McClanahan, Sam Raines, and Colby Raines.
Virginia Funeral Home of Grundy, Virginia is honored to serve the family of Wanda Lou McClanahan Baker.