Wanda Myers passed away peacefully at Rose Arbor Hospice House with her daughter, Angela, by her side, along with Dustin and Brandon.

Wanda was born and raised in Oneida, Tennessee, a place that remained close to her heart throughout her life. In 1969, she moved to Battle Creek, Michigan, and later made her home in Portage in 2013.

Wanda was a hardworking woman with a gift for caring for others. After moving to Michigan, she worked for many years at the Kitty Hawk Restaurant & Lounge inside the Battle Creek Airport. She later worked as a bartender at Saints and Sinners Lounge, where she was nominated for Bartender of the Year. During that time, Wanda raised a significant amount of money for the American Cancer Society—an accomplishment of which she and her family were incredibly proud.

Later in life, Wanda became a private caregiver, devoting herself to several families and staying with those in her care throughout the week before returning home on weekends. She continued this work for approximately seven years, until the COVID-19 pandemic led her family to encourage her to step away in order to protect her own health.

Wanda loved traveling, especially returning to her beloved Tennessee year after year to visit. She also enjoyed a good road trip with her grandson Brandon, while she and Dustin occasionally enjoyed spending a little time playing the machines.

Those who met Wanda rarely forgot her. She had a beautiful smile, an infectious laugh, and a southern drawl that often prompted people to ask, “Where are you from?” She was also known for her southern cooking, particularly her banana pudding, which her family proudly says was simply the best.

Above all, Wanda loved her family deeply. She will be remembered for the warmth she brought into their lives, the memories they shared, and the simple words that meant so much at the end of each day: “I love you.”

Wanda is survived by her son, Kevin Cross and his wife, Lee, of Waynoka Lake, Ohio; and her daughter, Angela Bentley of Portage, Michigan, with whom Wanda made her home for many years.

She is also survived by her grandchildren, Brandon Cross of Battle Creek, Michigan; Dustin Jones and Rachel; Brandon Cross and Molly; Amanda Kargas and George; Alex; and Arlen; along with her great-grandchildren, Sophia, Hudson, Brody, Cannon, Cambri, and Cooper; and her great-great-granddaughter, Oaklynn. She is also remembered by extended family in Kentucky and many others whose lives she touched.

Wanda was preceded in death by her parents, Eric and Pearl Sharp; her sister, June Thompson; her brothers, Billy Sharp and G.B. Sharp; and her son-in-law, Paul Bentley.

Family relationships were especially important to Wanda. Her mother, Pearl, shared a particularly close bond with her sister-in-law, Gerl Dean Sharp, a relationship that remained a cherished part of the family’s story.

Wanda’s daughter, Angela, would like to extend a special and heartfelt thank you to dear friends Kelli Poortenga and Gail Long for their friendship, kindness, and tremendous support during the losses of both her mother and her husband. Their help and presence during such difficult times have meant more than words can express.

A Celebration of Wanda’s Life will be held on Sunday, August 16, 2026, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Portage Zhang Senior Center in Portage, Michigan.

Wanda will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her, but her family finds comfort in knowing that this goodbye is not forever.