Wanda Jean Rios

11/29/44- 11/7/24

Wanda Jean Rios was born to Earl and Irene Lee on November 29th, 1944, in Wendell, Idaho. She was their eldest daughter and a loving older sister to Judy Dobozy. Wanda spent her childhood following her father around their family farm and offered as much help as a four or five-year-old kid could. Her early life on the farm fostered a lifelong love for animals and their well-being.

In the mid-1950s, Wanda and her family moved from the farm in Idaho to Lompoc, California, where Wanda would spend the majority of her life. She was a warm and kind person from an early age, which helped her make and maintain beautiful friendships. Wanda was the type of person who reached out to the person sitting alone in a school cafeteria or assembly, which was how she began a 64-year friendship with Vivian David. Even just before her passing, Wanda would spend hours on the phone (sometimes multiple times a week) catching up on life with her dear friends Vivian, Joy, Marsha, and Priscilla.

After leaving the farm, Wanda was able to explore and expand her deep love for creativity, art, music, and dancing. She had a natural artistic talent and won competitions and contests with her drawings (which she was often too humble to brag about). Wanda was deeply passionate about art, whether visiting art galleries or creating masterpieces of her own. Outside of creative passions, Wanda enjoyed reading and researching. She was particularly interested in the Civil War era and President Abraham Lincoln. She revered his ability to serve and dedication to unity during a tumultuous time in U.S. history. Wanda was motivated by wonder and curiosity and never hesitated to challenge others by asking "why."

As a hard-working young mother, Wanda worked at the local Lompoc Record before becoming a dispatcher for the Lompoc Police Department in 1975. She worked for the police department for 20 years, but the best perk of the job for Wanda was meeting the love of her life. Ted and Wanda met as coworkers for the Lompoc PD in 1980 but didn't begin dating until 1982. They waited until 1991 to marry, which was just the beginning of her adventures.

With her adult children out of the house and on their own, Wanda and Ted traveled the States and let the spirit of adventure take them wherever the road led. She loved being in nature, and the pair's adventures often involved camping. After a curious bear visited their campsite for snacks during a trip to Sequoia National Park, they promptly gave up on tent camping. They opted for style and traveled via RV for future adventures. Not even a bear could spook Wanda or steal her Doritos!

The RV's comfort (and safety) provided the perfect setting for some of Ted and Wanda's favorite travel memories. Once, when the pair were hit with a rainstorm while camping in Calico, California, they spent the evening cozied up in the RV watching Gunsmoke and listening to the rain. This became one of Wanda's most treasured memories.

Wanda didn't always need a planned trip with campsite reservations and a destination in mind. One year, the two jumped in the car with the simple plan of making the 20 to 30-minute drive to Santa Maria for pie and coffee to ring in the New Year. After getting lost in conversation for what turned out to be hours, Ted and Wanda found themselves in Gilroy, California, instead. A short trip to satisfy Wanda's sweet tooth turned into a spontaneous adventure, where they rang in the New Year with dinner and a stay in Sacramento. She lived up to the saying, "Just point your nose and go."

Wanda loved her camping trips and missed exit shenanigans, but her favorite and most exciting adventures always included family. She prioritized attending sporting events and graduations, which was no easy feat, with three children, ten grandchildren, and twelve great-grandchildren! She was proud of all 25 of them and never missed an opportunity to share their achievements with friends during those hours-long phone calls. For a woman known for challenging others and asking why, Wanda's equally curious children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren most remember getting the answer, "Because I said so."

Wanda will be so dearly missed by her friends and family. Wanda was Ted's loving wife and is survived by her children, David Espino, Rick Espino, Lisa Wood, and Leslie Alzamora. She is also survived by her grandchildren: Anthony, Charli Rose, Cameron, Joe, Samantha, Erika, Jacob, Joseph, Jessica, Haley, and her twelve great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held on November 16th at Starbuck-Lind Mortuary 123 North A St., Lompoc, CA 93436. The service will begin at 9:30 am followed by a graveside service. The family invites you to a celebration of life at the Lompoc Elks Lodge located at 905 East Ocean Ave., where parking will be at the rear of the building. Anyone wishing to send flowers may send them to the Starbuck-Lind Mortuary.