Wanda "Worm" Rohr Mitchell was born in 1928, the oldest of three children who experienced the Great Depression and WWII on her father's teacher salary; she considered herself lucky because they always had access to books.

Spending her childhood in different parts of Texas, Wanda gained a sense of adventure and interest in others. She took her interest in others to Baylor University where she graduated in Baylor's first nursing class in 1950. Post graduation she worked at Texas A&M University where she met her future husband David Mitchell. Marrying in 1951 David and Wanda moved to Garland where they raised their two children. Wanda spent her nursing career in the ER and training nurses, where she picked up the nickname Worm. Upon their retirement David and Wanda moved to Winnsboro where they became heavily involved in Lions Club International.

Wanda was a Lion for over 50 years serving in many officer roles, attending international conventions, serving as a Youth Exchange host for Lions from all over the world, many of whom became extended family. She was heavily involved in Lions International mission of providing sight to people around the world through eye glass donations and the UT Southwestern Eye Bank, acting as a committee member honoring donors. It is through Lion's Club that Wanda met her travelling companion of many years Warren Proctor - together they travelled across North America for Lion training, conventions, and visiting a host of family members and friends.

Tapping into her nursing background she worked as a summer camp nurse, at Camp Mitre Peak Girl Camp in West Texas from 1994-2004 dispensing not only medicine but special Worm hugs. Becoming a stand in mom and listening ear, Worm as she was affectionately known was a warm place to land not just for sick campers but for counselors and staff alike. Unflappable to a fault, Wanda was known for her decorated Christmas cookies delivered by the plateful. Her dry wit and cut throat rummikub and 42 skills but most of all the friends and community she built around her in her 97 years. Wanda is preceded in death by brother and sister, her husband David Mitchell, son Alan Mitcherll, and her companion Warren Proctor. Wanda is survived by her daughter, 3 grandchildren and six great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. Counting friends among her family Wanda is survived by friends from around the world from church, Lions Club, Girl Scouts, and more.

In Leiu of Flowers, please consider donations to Texas Lions Camp Memorial , Girl Scout Troop Mitre Donation or  Baylor School of Nursing- Donations

A Story by Wanda Rohr Mitchell

A demure smile spread over Wanda's face when she said, "Around here I'm known as the Bag Lady." That's because she often has knitting supplies with her. Last year she knitted 50 child-sized caps for the Samaritan's Purse ministries. Wanda was born in Weslaco, Texas, then moved with her parents, brother and sister to Bryan. After high school she went to Baylor University. In 1950, Wanda was one of three students to earn the university's first Bachelor of Science degree in nursing. She returned to Bryan to work in a family physician's office and began her lifetime in the medical field. In 1951 the Atomic Energy Department conducted a research program at A&M to determine how radiation exposure affected animals. Wanda joined the project. "We worked with chickens," she explained. "They wanted to know what dosage of radiation the chickens could survive after being exposed to a radiation source. And if they did survive, could they reproduce. "She met David when his Air Force unit was sent to reopen Bryan Air Base. They got married in December 1951. After his discharge they moved to Wichita, Kansas, where David worked and completed his degree. Wanda worked for Beech Aircraft on the company's nursing staff then at the Wichita Clinic in the pediatric section. The couple next relocated to Harlingen where their son Alan was born. A few more moves then back to Harlingen where Wanda was on staff at Valley Baptist Hospital. Dallas came next where Wanda held several nursing jobs as well as caring for their family that now included their daughter Ann. She ended her medical career after 10 years of teaching Inservice Education in Nursing at Garland Memorial Hospital. The couple retired in 1987, bought land that eventually grew to about 150 acres in Camp County. They raised cattle, had a pine plantation and were active in the Lions Club. After David passed away in 1994, Wanda remained on the farm with her son until she moved to Parkview in 2020. She has three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Wanda now serves as vice president of the Longview Lions Club and stays active in Parkview's activities. She especially likes live theater and recalls when at A&M she worked with the Aggie Players stage crew for a few years. If you want to know if the daily mail has been delivered just ask Wanda. "I do get a lot of mail," she said with a smile. "Most of it I recycle."