Wynona Newell

Wynona Lea (Van Dyke) Newell, 92, passed away peacefully after a sudden illness on December 1, 2019 surrounded by her daughters at Baylor Scott & White Hospital in College Station, TX. Although grief stricken, those of us who knew her know her faith in the Lord has taken her to a much better place. Wynona, also known as Winnie, Mama and Grammy, was the cornerstone of her family and her memory will be cherished by every life she touched.

Wynona was born February 28, 1927 to Randolph Lyle Van Dyke and Willie Belle (Burton) Van Dyke in Lorenzo, Texas. She was preceded in death by her parents; her beloved son, Richard Newell; brother, John Van Dyke; sisters-in-love, Nita Jones and Renie Colley.

She is survived by her daughters, Judy Kay & husband Pat Rust of Cocoa, Florida, Rebecca “Becky” & husband Chuck Dean of College Station, Texas, Pat Cook of Pflugerville, Texas, Donna Watson of Gatesville, Texas, Laurie & husband Wade Rhodes of Bryan, Texas; daughter-in-law, Lavell Newell of Bell Buckle, Tennessee; sister-in-love Linda & husband Julius Schoppe of Texas City, Texas; 16 grandchildren; 27 great grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews along with other relatives and dear friends.

Wynona put on her Lord and Savior through baptism when she was 12 years old and she demonstrated her faith every day of her life. She was a longtime member of the Caldwell Church of Christ, and after moving to Bryan she was a faithful and active member of the Central Church of Christ in Bryan.

She graduated Slaton High School in 1944 and went to work for Southwestern Bell in Galveston where she met and then married Wallace Newell in 1949. Shortly after marrying, they moved to the country outside of Caldwell where they ran a successful dairy business for 17 years. After retiring from the dairy, Wynona started working at Leisure Lodge Nursing Home in Caldwell. At the age of 50 she decided to continue her education by going to LVN school. She spent the next 20 years at Leisure Lodge, then worked a couple of years at the Manor in Bryan, finally retiring at the age of 72.

Wynona moved to Bryan in 1999 and stayed in her home until the age of 91 when she moved to the Isle of Watercrest Assisted living. While at this facility she made many new friends and was able to resume her passion of playing 42 dominoes. She continued her love of jigsaw puzzles, crossword puzzles and reading.

Everyone who met her remembers her smile, her happiness, her faith and her undying love for her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren whose pictures adorned every wall of her home. She will be missed by many.

Funeral services are set for 11:00 a.m., Friday, December 6, 2019 at Central Church of Christ in Bryan, Texas, with Mr. Bob Wolfert officiating. Interment will follow at Bryan City Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., Thursday, December 5, 2019 also at Central Church of Christ in Bryan

Her grandsons will serve as pallbearers.