ADAMS, NY — The wipeout queen of Adams, Wanda Oatman, passed away on July 15, 2022, with her children and grandchildren by her side.
Wanda fought her own demons for many years and the excesses that came with those demons, finally took their toll.
Wanda was born on March 2, 1960, in Watertown, NY, to Sharon Lou (Smith) and Robert Vincent Oatman. She grew up in Adams, NY, with two younger siblings, Sherri Ann and Robert Dale.
Wanda had two marriages (Greg Kimmett and Ward Thompson) that both ended in divorce but resulted in the birth of two of her children, Brandi Ann Kimmett and Brandon Michael Thompson. She has an older son from a previous relationship as well, William Alexander Oatman.
In her adult life, Wanda enjoyed bingo, crocheting, Tweety Bird, walks, casinos, male strippers, being loud (might be a family trait), getting handsy, having a hot temper and, of course, drinking. Her favorite men were Jon Bon Jovi and Kenny Rogers, and her favorite song was “I’d Really Love To See You Tonight” by England Dan and John Ford Coley.
Wanda’s favorite thing to eat was fish that was caught, fileted, and cooked by her youngest son, Brandon. She collected decorative tins, kerosene lamps and dragon decor. She was affectionately known as Walenda, Wicked Wanda and Yak by her family and possibly some close friends.
Wanda is survived by her heartbroken father Robert V. at the ripe young age of 87, her brother Robert D., her children; William A., Brandi and Brandon, her grandchildren; William J., Ryan, Troy, Austin and Vincent.
Wanda was predeceased by her mom, Sharon (oh so lovingly known as “Ma”) who passed away in 2017 and by her beautiful sister, Sherri who passed away in 2004 due to the same demons that took Wanda to her grave. If there is anything our family would wish, it would be that Wanda and her sister could have won their battles. We don’t know what drove them to drink but, we will love them and miss them dearly.
We have all had our good times and our bad times with Wanda but, at this time, we will choose to remember the best of times. The times when she smiled with her crooked teeth even though she was terribly self-conscious about them. The times that she would sing at the top of her lungs even though she couldn’t carry a tune and didn’t know most of the words. The times that she was shaking everything she had to “Wipeout” at the field days (embarrassing the hell out of her children). The time Ma sent her to her room to get her purse for her and she came back with a broom, because she forgot what she went in there for and “had to come back with something”.
In the end, what else is there to do but try and remember the good. There is no sense in focusing on the bad things any longer because they can’t be changed or fixed.
Wanda will be cremated and planted in a bios urn next to her beloved grandmother, Frances Smith. Just like Wanda’s mother Sharon, we will have a living tree to sit with when we miss our loved ones. Calling hours will be held 1 to 2 p.m. Tuesday, July 26, 2022, at the Reed & Benoit Funeral Home.
ALL are welcome but, given the volatile nature of many friends and family, we would like everyone to know that ALL are welcome and anyone who causes any issue will be removed from the premises immediately. Regardless of relation to Wanda.
