Mrs. Wanda Lea (Fuller) Ruddick

May 29, 1930 - October 31, 2020

Due to the ongoing pandemic, memorial services will be held at a later date for Waunda Lea (Fuller) Ruddick, 90, of Las Cruces, NM. Waunda had previously lived in Memphis, TX, Artesia, NM and Carthage, TX. Waunda was born on May 29, 1930 in Shady Grove Community in Panola County, TX to David Fuller and Norma (Tankersley) Fuller and passed away October 31, 2020. She was the youngest of five children. She married Randall Harrison Ruddick on January 19, 1950 in Carthage, TX. For 65 years, they were almost always together, until Randall’s death in November 2015. They are once again together in heaven. Waunda is preceded in death by her parents, husband Randall, son Randall Harrison Ruddick II, sisters Pauline Sutlive and Viola Ponder, brothers Junior Fuller and Hartwell Fuller. When Waunda was 13 years old, her mother passed away, and she went to live with her sister Pauline and brother-in-law Otis Sutlive. Otis asked Waunda one day if she could take the hoe and clean a row of cotton. She indeed cleaned the entire row, including the cotton. Otis told her that she did exactly what he had asked her to do, but he thought maybe she would make an even better cook in the kitchen. Well, Otis was correct. Waunda’s gift of cooking was her lifetime love. She loved to cook, especially for her beloved family and dear friends. She made many friends wherever she lived, and was always active in the church, usually ending up in charge of the kitchen. She would help Randall in his big gardens, and would can and freeze the fruits of their labor. She shared her knowledge of canning and freezing with her family and friends. You’d never be hungry in Waunda and Randall’s home. She was always active, never wanting to sit or lay down. She worked at the switchboard for the phone company in her younger years and also as a beautician. Waunda is survived by son Allen Ruddick and wife Elissa of Las Cruces, NM; grandchildren Sherry Anderson and husband Jonathan of Abilene, TX; Randall Harrison Ruddick III and wife Crystal of Mount Vernon, WA; Robert Ruddick and wife Teresa of San Antonio, TX; Randall Allen Ruddick and wife Melissa of LaCombe, LA; Jamie Ruddick of Albuquerque, NM and David Newbrough of Memphis, TX. She is also survived by twelve great grandchildren.