- Date Of Birth: May 26, 1936
- Date Of Death: August 27, 2021
- State: Illinois
Wanda Lee (Ridings) Goldsmith Edwards, 85, of Washington, IL went to be with her Lord and Savior on Friday, August 27, 2021 in Gulf Shores, AL. Wanda was born on May 26, 1936 in Eagan, TN to Virgil and Josephine (Smiddy) Ridings. She married Frank R. Goldsmith on September 16, 1953 in Metamora, IL. She later married Richard Edwards on November 27, 2010.
She is survived by her husband, Richard and her children, Marcia (Gary) Hedrick of San Antonio, TX, Michael Goldsmith of Morton, IL, and Jennifer (Dan) Vonachen of Peoria, IL. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Elizabeth (Brian) Nowotny, Michael (Rachel) Hedrick, and Sarah Hedrick, all of San Antonio, TX, Jason (Lindsey) Goldsmith of Sioux City, IA, and Alicia Goldsmith of New York, and Olivia and Natalie Vonachen of Peoria, IL; her great-grandchildren, Emily, Owen, Sam, and Vivian Nowotny, Ben and Eliana Hedrick, and Aiyana, Jayvion, Jalycia, and Janaya Goldsmith; step-children, Rich Edwards, Jr., and Carol (Kurt) Smeltzer both of Washington, IL, and Jeff Edwards of Atlanta, GA; step-grandchildren, Kyle (Carissa) Smeltzer, Justin (Shannon) Smeltzer, and Caleb and Josiah Smeltzer; and step-great-grandson, Vincent Smeltzer. She is also survived by her brothers, Carl Ridings, and Bob Ridings, and sister, Lucinda Harris. She was preceded in death by two sisters and one brother.
Wanda’s first job was a curbie at Steak n Shake. She later went on to receive her cosmetology license at Liberty Beauty College in Peoria, IL graduating on December 9, 1961. She owned and operated her own beauty shop in Metamora for many years. She later worked as a furniture sales consultant at Dawsons Home Center and Leath Furniture.
She enjoyed being outdoors in the garden, reading and loved to collect teacups and handkerchiefs. Whenever she would send a card to someone she would always send a handkerchief with it. She called it her “handkerchief ministry”. She never met a stranger and was loved by many.