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Eugenia Wilhelmina Wiand, age 93, went to be with our Lord on Friday, October 21, 2016 at Country Care Manor, a skilled nursing facility in LaVernia, Texas. She was surrounded by family, loved ones and those at the facility who had grown to love her over the 9 years she resided there. She was born on October 10, 1923 in Ashland, Virginia to Nearest and Mary (Wingfield) Thayer. Growing up, she enjoyed singing in the choir and in school plays. Shortly after graduating from high school in 1941, she met the love of her life, Ensign William (Bill) Welcome Wiand USNR. World War II: Bill was deployed overseas from October 1943 to May 1944. He was the Navigator of a United States Naval Patrol Bomber Plane (the B-24 Liberator Aircraft) in the Anti-Submarine operations in the Bay of Biscay and the Western Approaches to the United Kingdom. While her fiancé was stationed abroad, Eugenia played an important role during World War II as she remained on the home front and worked at a Dupont factory in Petersburg, Virginia. The plant manufactured rayon yarn used in the production of parachutes used by our servicemen. She was part of a movement, the contribution that women played in the success of the Allied Victory in World War II. They were married on May 22, 1944, immediately upon his return to the USA. The young couple lived in many different states, as part of Bill’s military service. Including: Corpus Christi, Texas; Raleigh, North Carolina; Norfolk, Virginia; and Richmond, Virginia (where all 3 children were born). Upon retiring from active duty military service with the designation of Lieutenant Commander, Bill was employed with Texaco Inc., Asphalt and Sales Department. The couple lived in Decatur, Illinois. They later moved to Houston, Texas in 1969. He worked his way up the corporate ladder and retired after 30 years of service. They had a comfortable life. Together they had three children. Eugenia did not work outside of the home and dedicated her life to being a wife and mother. Once their children were grown and her husband had retired from Texaco, Bill and Wilhelmina enjoyed spending time at Bethy Creek, a small fishing community near Lake Livingston. Eugenia became quite the avid “fisherwoman”. The couple traveled some within the U.S.A. She enjoyed their visits to Las Vegas, Nevada and was particularly fond of the 5 cent slot machines. Eugenia and Bill moved to San Antonio in 2000 in order to be close to their daughter and her family. He passed away four months later. She remained in San Antonio. She enjoyed music and had a beautiful voice. She could whistle and carry a tune in perfect pitch. She enjoyed volunteering in the library at her children’s schools where she developed a passion for reading. She was the leader of her daughters Brownie Troop (a division of the Girl Scout program). Eugenia will be remembered as a soft spoken southern lady. Her slow Virginia drawl remained with her even after the move to Texas. Her walk with Jesus Christ was a very private and personal one. Her favorite hymn was “In The Garden” in which one walks alone in the garden with Jesus, surrounded by birds, roses and the beauty of nature. All things that she found pleasure in. Preceding her death are her parents, Nearest Leroy and Mary Eugene Thayer; husband, William Welcome Wiand; and great-grand daughter, Morgan Gilbreath Lindsey. Surviving relatives include; sons, Richard Wiand(Semra) and Melvin Wiand; daughter, Paula Lindsey(Keith); grand-daughter, Missy Pawling Walker(Brandon); grandsons, Aaron Lindsey(Erika), Collin Lindsey(fiancé Amber); great-grand daughters, Kayleigh Lindsey, Lauren Walker; great-grand son, Blake Walker; brothers, Charles Thayer(Margie) and James Thayer(Edith Joy). A memorial service will be held on October, Wednesday 26, 2016 at LaVernia Country Care Manor, located at 2736 FM 775 LaVernia, Tx 78121 beginning at 10:30am. With Pastor Dawn Barker Baird of Cimarron Praise UMC officiating. A private service will follow where she will be laid to rest alongside her husband at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery, 1520 harry Wurzbach Rd. San Antonio, Tx 78209 (Grave No. 344 / Section 22) The Wiand , Lindsey and Thayer families would like to extend our gratitude to all of the staff at The Country Care Manor in LaVernia for their attentiveness and loving care of our loved one. You made this her "home" for the past 9 years which brings great comfort to us. "A house is made of wood and stone, but only LOVE can make a home" (author unknown). In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Eugenia's name to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research.

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Eugenia Wilhelmina Wiand

October 10, 1923 - October 21, 2016