Wanda Avant Phelan

Wanda Avant Phelan, 92, passed away Sunday May 22, 2016, in Farmington, NM. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 28, 2016, at the First Christian Church in Plainview, Texas, with Dr. Max Browning officiating and Mr. Robert Bell assisting. A graveside service will be held on Monday, May 30, 2016, at 1 p.m. in the Fairview Cemetery in Memphis, Texas. Services are under the care of Kornerstone Funeral Directors of Plainview. A visitation will be held on Friday, May 27, 2016, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Kornerstone Funeral Directors in Plainview, Texas. Wanda was born on Dec. 15, 1923, to Charles and Bonnie Johnson in Greenville, Texas. Wanda was a classically trained pianist and vocalist studying and practicing throughout her life. She attended the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, now the music department of the University of Cincinnati. Returning to Texas she lived in Dallas and performed in the Dallas Summer Musicals at the Dallas Fair Park in the 1940’s. She returned to Childress, Texas where she had grown up and caught the eye of her future husband when her photo appeared in the newspaper. Through a mutual friend a proper introduction was made and her marriage to Frank Phelan, Jr. of Clarendon, Texas followed a few months later. Their family life resulted in two sons. Wanda was involved in numerous civic, social, and charitable organizations. She was active in a number of churches as teacher, choir director, choir member, and pianist. She was always concerned about the wellbeing of others. She is preceded in death by her husband, Frank Phelan, Jr.; her parents, Charles and Bonnie Johnson; one brother, Charles Edwin Johnson, Jr. She is survived by her two sons, Charles C. Phelan and Frank Phelan III and his wife, Patricia; and two granddaughters, Vanessa and Alanna Phelan. Memorial donations can be made in Wanda’s name to First Christian Church, 1800 N. IH27, Plainview, TX 79072, South Plains Council of Boy Scouts of America, 30 Briercroft Office Park, Lubbock, TX 79412, Golden Spread Council/Adobe Walls District, 401 Tascosa Rd., Amarillo, TX 79124, or Clarendon College, P.O. Box 968, Clarendon, TX 79226.