Obituary of Wanda L. Garner

On Thursday, August 31, 2017, Wanda L. Garner was unexpectedly called home to be reunited with her Lord, family, and friends while undergoing treatment for an illness. Wanda impacted the lives of so many across the country. Her legacy includes a commitment to educating students, teaching the teachers, mentoring, and caring for animals, especially cats. She was the force behind math, science, and engineering for many years at Cabrillo College, in Aptos, CA. Wanda was respected and well known for her intellect, integrity, work ethic, advancement of STEM and her ability to be a great friend to the people in her life. She was such a brilliant woman with a disarming wit, and even bigger heart. Wanda was firmly committed to the value of community colleges and immediately after graduation, began her career at Sheridan College in Wyoming. Early in her career, she was nominated to attend the American Mathematical Association of Two-Year Colleges (AMATYC) as a delegate. She had been an active contributor since 1981 including holding the highest elected office, President. Following her work at Sheridan, she taught at Colorado Technical College for several years. In 1986 Wanda moved to Aptos, CA and embarked on a long and dedicated career at Cabrillo. At the time of her retirement in 2016, she was the Dean of Natural and Applied Sciences. One of her most proud accomplishments was helping AMATYC create, publish, and implement the 1st Standards Document in 1995 which elevated the status of two year Colleges within the academic community. After her retirement from Cabrillo, she continued her work with AMATYC making a difference, until her untimely passing. Born November 7, 1951, in Independence, KS, she graduated from Independence High School, Independence Community College, Pittsburg State University, and earned her masters in mathematics at the University of Missouri-Rolla. She was preceded in death by her parents, John H and Verla Dean Garner, and her brother Jerald. She is survived by brother John & his wife Paula of Newark, DE, brother Lee & his wife Maria of Katy, TX, sister-in-law Jennifer Garner of Houston, TX, several nieces and nephews, great nephews, and her family of cats (or kids as she called them) led by Rhett and Charlie. In lieu of flowers and remembrance services, please consider making a donation to the causes closest to her heart, the Animal Shelter Relief, PO Box 2682, Santa Cruz, CA 95063 and the Wanda Garner Scholarship Fund at The Cabrillo College Foundation, 6500 Soquel Dr, Aptos, CA 95003.