Wanda Kate Chamberlin

Wanda Kate Beatty Chamberlin, age 86, of Eufaula, Oklahoma since 1996, died February 7, 2020. Her memorial service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, February 13, 2020, North Fork Baptist Church, Bridgeport Access Road, Eufaula, Oklahoma. Burial will be 1:00 p.m., at the Fort Gibson National Cemetery, Fort Gibson, Oklahoma. Born May 19, 1933 in Franklin County, Arkansas, she was the first of seven children born of Edward Guy Beatty and Minnie Verda O’Neal Beatty. Wanda was married for 68 years to Rev. Dr. Marvin L. Chamberlin, CHC, USN, Retired. Wanda was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Edward Beatty Jr., and Owen D. Beatty; sisters Leta Beatty Johnson, Ruth Beatty Slight and Freda Beatty Wallace. Wanda is survived by her husband Marvin; son Mark Lee Chamberlin, daughters Carol Lynn Chamberlin and Kathryn Beatty Chamberlin Desmond; and son-in law Joseph Louis Desmond, daughter-in-law Anna Louise Hoover Chamberlin; grandsons Matthew Lee and wife Kristi Valentin, James Allen and wife Gretchen Hoffmaster, Johnathan Michael and wife Lexie Jo Mendoza; great grandsons Aaron Tyler Chamberlin, Thomas Michael Chamberlin, Jacob James Chamberlin, Talon Jaxson Chamberlin; great granddaughters Koltyn Rane Mendoza, Amberlyn Nicole Chamberlin, Kieryn Marie Chamberlin. Other family members include her sister Sheila Beatty Krout and husband Ron Krout, sister-in-law Norma Tull and numerous nieces and nephews. Wanda grew up in Oxnard, California. She accepted Jesus Christ as her Saviour at the age of 11 and never wavered in her faith. She graduated from Oxnard High School and married June 29, 1951 in Santa Paula, California. Shortly thereafter she began her long and fulfilling career as the wife of a college student, seminary student, Southern Baptist pastor, Navy Chaplain and the mother of three. She was known for her kindness, logical thinking, management of the household, cooking and entertaining expertise. Due to necessity as a young struggling seminary student’s wife, she learned to stretch a dollar and still provide an elegant meal and home life. She continued to support Marvin’s interest with his membership in Freemasonry after their retirement to Eufaula. Despite chronic pain, most of her life, as a military wife Wanda supported the military career of her husband through 21 years of moves and the uncertainty caused by a frequent absent husband and father in sea deployments. He also served one year, in country, during the Vietnam War. During these years she volunteered for the Navy Relief and Red Cross, taught countless Bible studies and tutored a Japanese student in English. She managed moving the family to several stateside duty stations additionally moves to Japan and the Philippines. She embraced the different cultures to which she was exposed to as evidenced by her enjoyment of living is traditional Japanese housing while stationed in Japan. In the Philippines she visited the aboriginal tribes in the rural areas of Leta Island. Wanda went back to work in 1980 and retired from Sears in 1993 in Oxnard. She and Marvin then moved, for the 22nd time, to Eufaula where she pursued her interest in reading, traveling and family history. She and Marvin logged thousands of miles traveling the United States. She and her sister Sheila spent years together successfully researching their family history. Wanda was a member of North Fork Baptist Church, Eufaula; Orphan Train Heritage Society of America; United States Daughters of 1812; and Daughters of the Indian Wars through her Cherokee ancestry. Special appreciation is extended to Good Shepherd Hospice for their kind, courteous, professional care of Wanda these last few days. Arrangements are under the direction of Hunn, Black and Merritt Funeral Home and Crematory.