GRANBURY — On Tuesday, May 8, 2012, Wanda Jo Noah Newton lost her courageous battle with cancer after living a life filled with amazing accomplishments.
Funeral: 2:00 p.m. Saturday, May 12, 2012, in the Bedwell Chapel at Granbury First Baptist Church. Burial: Acton Cemetery. Visitation: 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Wiley Funeral Home.
Wanda Jo graduated from Granbury High School in 1956, then attended North Texas University, SMU and TCU. Her career in design engineering began as a draftsman at General Dynamics, Texas Instruments and LTV Aircraft. Against all odds, as a woman, she was chosen to work at NASA during the entire Apollo manned spacecraft program. She was the first woman allowed in Mission Control where she worked with Chris Kraft. Wanda Jo was also involved in the simulation training of all the Apollo astronauts. Currently two of her designs for NASA are on display at the Smithsonian Institute.
Following NASA, she became an entrepreneur, owning several businesses. After her father’s death, she became a cattle rancher in Lipan where she also pursued her love of hunting and fishing. She was preceded in death by her father, Joe Noah (owner of Humble-Exxon Bulk Oil Station), her mother, Velma, her brother, James, and husband, Paul Newton.
Survivors: She is survived by a nephew, a niece and her many loving friends.
Wiley Funeral Home
Granbury, 817-573-3000