Wanda Canales

Wanda McDaniel Canales, 84 of Lampasas, passed away on Thursday, February 25, 2016 at Rollins Brook Community Hospital in Lampasas, Texas. She was born in Kempner, Texas on Thursday, April 30, 1931 to Gladys Watts McDaniel and Charlie Edward McDaniel. Lampasas County was her life-long home where she enjoyed a long and productive life. Services to celebrate her life will be held Tuesday, March 1, 2016 at 1:00 pm at the First United Methodist Church in Lampasas with interment to follow at Oak Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Monday from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Sneed Funeral Chapel in Lampasas, Texas. After graduating from Lampasas High School, Class of 1948, she graduated Jackson Business College in Lampasas. She then began working as a bookkeeper with Simon Brothers Construction. While there, she met the man that was to become her husband of 43 years, Louis Antonio Canales. One year after their marriage, to the day, they had their first child, Karen Sue Canales. Three years later, their second daughter was born, Lisa Ann Canales-Dibble. During her first few years of motherhood, Wanda dedicated herself to the home and training both daughters to become responsible, polite children, a trait that she and Louis felt was vital to succeed in life. She slowly returned to the work force by working part time with the Lampasas Draft Board and at the Lampasas Auction Barn. After Lisa started school, she decided it was time to go back into the workforce full time. Her first jobs were in the legal field working as a legal secretary and later as the secretary to two Lampasas County Judges: Judge Sylvester Lewis and Judge Gordon Cass. In the mid 60’s, Wanda had the opportunity to become secretary for the Lampasas High School Principal Bill Bush. During her time at the high school she dealt with many students and their constant, high school antics. A lot of students tried, as students will, to put things past her. However, the students were actually no challenge for Wanda’s determination, desire, and interest in seeing that young people become responsible and productive citizens. After being at the high school for several years, she returned to work for the county. This time in the role of assistant County Clerk she issued many marriage licenses, death certificates, and handled the legal filings for the county. In late 1974, she was presented with the opportunity to help establish a juvenile probation department in Lampasas and Mills County where she became Chief Juvenile Probation Officer for both counties. This new opportunity allowed her to once again work with the youth of this area in a different capacity, but still being able to help shape their lives in a positive way. As with everything that she did in life, Wanda became entrenched with learning all that there was to know regarding juvenile law. For 25 years she dedicated herself to helping steer our local youth in the right direction. During these years, one of her mainstay philosophies was: Respect, Responsibility and Reality, that she always referred to as the 3 R’s. She felt that all people should have Respect for their self and one another, take Responsibility for what was happening and look at the Reality of every situation. After retirement, Wanda enjoyed several years of traveling throughout the country with various groups and spending time with her grandsons. Up until her death, she was very involved in volunteering with the Rollins Brook Community Hospital (RBCH) where she served as the membership director for the volunteers and with First United Methodist Church of Lampasas. Until recently, she volunteered at her church office as well as at RBCH front desk and put in many more hours every week dealing with the many duties required of the membership director. Even while she was in the hospital, she would have them roll her down to the RBCH volunteer board meetings so she could attend and “not miss anything!” She managed the volunteers with the same determination and spunk as she had always done with her life, family, and the youth of Lampasas. Wanda Canales is survived by two daughters, Karen Canales (Dionna Dents) and Lisa Canales-Dibble (Russ) and one grandson Jake Dibble. She is also survived by a brother-in-law Ramon Canales, sisters-in-law Bertie Canales, Billie Canales, and Helen McDaniel. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband and one grandson, Zachary Antonio Dibble, along with several brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, and three nephews. Pallbearers are great nephews Trampus Isom, Pepper Isom, Curtis Richmond, Colter Burr, Cameron Brister, Drakkar Canales, Wes Canales, and Chad Freeman. Honorary pallbearers are the Class of 1948 and the Rollins Brook Community Hospital & Metroplex Hospital Volunteers. Memorial contributions can be made to the Zac Dibble Memorial Scholarship Fund, PO Box 671, Lampasas, TX 76550 Attn: Annie Trotter or to the charity of one’s choice.