Wanda Renilta Lettkeman

Wanda Renilta Gilstrap (Lettkeman) was born December 22, 1932, in Friendship, Oklahoma, the daughter of Lonnie Allen and Gladys Gilstrap. She passed away on October 14, 2015 in Clinton, Oklahoma. Much of her early years she spent growing up in Sentinel, Oklahoma. She went to school there through Junior High where she played basketball. In 1947 the family moved to Clinton, Oklahoma. She started high school in Clinton and that is where she met her best friend for life, Orville Lettkeman. Orville joined the U.S. Navy upon graduation while Wanda's family moved to Midwest City where she graduated high school. She started work for the Civil Service in 1951 and continued until 1955. Her first bookkeeping job was at the Clinton Sherman Air force base in Burns Flat, Ok. She prided herself on being excellent in bookkeeping, English, mathematics and shorthand. She was always an avid reader. She continued her work in Civil Service working at Fort Sill in Lawton, Oklahoma. When Orville returned to Oklahoma from serving in the Navy, Wanda and Orville were married on April 3, 1954 in Lawton, Oklahoma. The married couple soon moved to Dothan, Alabama where she continued doing Civil Service until she had her first child Robert Gene Lettkeman "Bob". The family moved to California where her next two boys David Michael Lettkeman and Dennis Mark Lettkeman were born. Final the family worked their way back to Oklahoma to Clinton where the final two boys of five were born. Peter Allen Lettkeman and Philip Antony were born in Clinton, Oklahoma. Wanda worked at Kellwoods in Clinton, Oklahoma from 1970 to 1972. She stayed at home a few years taking care of her little boys. In 1980 she returned to her passion, bookkeeping. She changed in her manual typewriter for electric and applied for a job with Kluver's Furniture Store. She worked at Kluver's for eight years until retiring in 1988. While she may have retired from working, Wanda did not retire from serving. Wanda was a member of the Women's Auxillary of the VFW serving beside her husband. She had a tremendous love for her country and for the military that has served it so well. She was a champion of the Voice of Democracy program for youth and served in many capacities until recently. No surprise that she handled the monthly news letter and the treasury and bookkeeping for many years once she had moved on to using the computer. Wanda and Orville spent much time visiting veterans at the VA hospital and working at the post. She was also very proud of her three children Bob, David and Pete who served their country proudly in the Army, Navy and Air Force respectively. Wanda had many hobbies through the years. She loved to crochet, knit and read books. Up until the last few months she continued to read a novel in a day or two. She enjoyed country music and loved to dance. She has always said that she loves the Lord and is thankful for her blessings and especially her family and friends. Wanda was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Orville, her brother Lonnie T. Gilstrap and her oldest son Robert Gene Lettkeman (Bob). Wanda is survived by four sons and five spouses Gail Lettkeman (wife of Bob Lettkeman) of Weatherford; David and Misty Lettkeman of Parker, Colorado; Dennis and Shirley Lettkeman of Watonga, Oklahoma; Peter (Pete) and Jinnie Lettkeman of O'Fallon, Illinois; Philip (Tony) and Holly Lettkeman of Stillwater, Oklahoma; 22 grand children and 8 great grandchildren. She is also survived 3 brothers, Johnnie Gilstrap of Cottonwood, CA; Roger Gilstrap and Donald Gilstrap of Poway, CA; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends of whom her presence will be dearly missed. Funeral Services will be held on Monday, October 19th at 10:30 AM at Kiesau-Lee Funeral Home, 2500 W. Modelle Ave., Clinton, OK 73601