Wanda Joy Botkin

Wanda Leonard Botkin (née Leonard), age 87, of St. Charles, Missouri, went home to be with the Lord on June 19, 2026.

Born on January 7, 1939, in Rolla, Missouri, Wanda was the beloved daughter of Earl and Marie Leonard. Raised on her grandparents' farm alongside her older sister, Wilma, and late brother, Wayne, she learned the values of family, hard work, and faith early on. Following the tragic loss of her brother during childhood, Wanda found comfort and her spiritual home at First Baptist Church in Rolla, making a profession of faith that would guide the rest of her life.

Wanda attended Baylor University and became an educator. She returned to Rolla to teach in the local school district, and it was there, at a Baptist Student Union meeting, that she met Morris Botkin, an engineering student. They were married on a notably hot August day in 1962.

After Morris completed his degree, the couple settled in St. Louis. Wanda devoted her early years of marriage to staying home and raising their three children. She was a dedicated former member of Fee Fee Baptist Church and now Waypoint Church, where she taught Sunday School, volunteered with Meals on Wheels, and wrote teaching materials for the Southern Baptist Convention. As her children grew older, she returned to the workforce, assisting with insurance pre-certifications at an OB-GYN office in St. Ann. She treasured her time there, sharing many laughs with colleagues who became lifelong friends.

A voracious reader of mystery novels, Wanda also loved cooking, bowling, and playing competitive card games. She was an active member of the P.E.O. Sisterhood, a women’s philanthropic educational organization, where she maintained a regular Friday bridge game for decades. Known for her sharp, quick wit and perfect deadpan delivery, she brought fun and creativity to everyday life, famously turning household chores into games. Her creative, nurturing spirit perfectly balanced her husband’s analytical mind, creating a beautiful and complementary marriage.

Wanda lived her life with profound purpose as a faithful servant of God and the beloved matriarch of her family. As Proverbs 31:28 perfectly captures: “Her children rise up and call her blessed, her husband also and he praises her.”

Wanda is survived by her devoted husband, Morris; her three children, Len Botkin (Kelle), Katie Wurm (Joe), and Matt Botkin (Susan); and her six adored grandchildren, Garrett, Andrew, Alli (Nick), Abby, Leah (Trevor), and Jacob. She was preceded in death by her parents, Earl and Marie Leonard, sister Wilma, and her brother, Wayne.

A private family graveside memorial will be held at this time. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that memorial donations be made to Missouri P.E.O. Outreach Fund sent to Becky Estep, Mo State Chapter, 17900 East 25th Street Court South, Independence, Missouri 64057-1336.