Wanda Aileen Gates

Wanda Aileen Rollins was the daughter of William Clarence Rollins and Clara Rachel Slade Rollins. She was born in Lyman, Wyoming, September 3, 1907 . Wanda Aileen married Clarence F. Gates in 1925. By 1930, Wanda Aileen and Clarence were living in Belvidere, Boone County, Illinois. Clarence, 28, and Wanda, listed as Aileen, 22, had two children by then, Clarence, 3 and a half years old and Barbara J., 3 months old. They were living at 603 Garfield Avenue in a home they were renting for $40 per month, and they had a radio in their home. Clarence was working as the director of a high school band. In a 1938 U.S. City Directory listing Clarence and Aileen were living at 118 N. Prospect, Rockford, Illinois, and Clarence was working as the Sales Manager of American Beauty Music House.

In 1940 the family had moved to 723 N. Rockford in Rockford, Illinois, and Clarence was working as President and Sales Manager of American Beauty Music House, a retail musical instrument store. Wanda, again listed as Aileen, was working as a piano teacher at home. They were renting their home for $52.00 per month. Clarence had a 4 year college degree, Wanda Aileen had a 4 year high school diploma, and all their children were still in school. All their children were all born in Illinois. Their youngest son, Ronald F., was 8 years old. For the 52 weeks that Clarence worked in 1939 at 60 hours per week, his income was $2,600.

Clarence who was born August 31, 1901, passed away May, 1963. Wanda Aileen married twice after Clarence passed away, and following is an obituary for her:

CARTER -- Aileen (Mrs. Ray), a Tulsa resident for 64 years, passed away on Saturday, September 25, 2004. She was 97. She is survived by: her husband, Mr. Ray Carter of Tulsa; 2 sons, Dr. Clarence R. Gates of Westlake Village, California, and Mr. David A. Gates of Rancho Santa Fe, California; and a daughter, Mrs. Edwin C. (Barbara) Wright of Atherton, California; 15 grandchildren; and 26 great-grandchildren. A third son, Dr. Ronald F. Gates, passed away in 2002. Aileen and her family came to Tulsa in 1940 when her husband, Mr. Clarence F. Gates assumed the position of Head of Instrumental Music at Tulsa Central High School. Clarence passed away in 1963 and Aileen subsequently married Mr. C. Willford Rhodes of Tulsa, a prominent Tulsa Consulting Engineer.

In 1985 she married Ray Carter, long-time Tulsa Oilman and co-founder of Unit Rig. She was born Wanda Aileen Rollins on September 3, 1907, on a cattle ranch near Lyman, a tiny town in southwestern Wyoming. She was the seventh of 13 children and she was the final survivor. Aileen led a life of extraordinary accomplishment. She was a skilled porcelain sculptor, seamstress, upholsterer, tailor, chef, bridge player, etc. She taught piano, elocution and baton twirling. In earlier residences in Belvidere, Illinois, and Rockford, Illinois, she was President of the local Women's Clubs.

In Tulsa where the family moved in 1940, she was noted for her community involvement in gardening. She served as President of the Tulsa Garden Club and was co-founder of Up With Trees, a Tulsa organization devoted to promoting trees in Tulsa. The pinnacle of her garden accomplishment was surely her statewide wildflower sowing project. During the mid 1970's, as Tulsa Garden Club President and as chairperson of the Oklahoma Roadside Development and Indigenous Plants Committee, she proposed a program of planting wildflowers along Oklahoma's roads and highways. The State Highway Commission accepted the plan, which blossomed into "Operation Wildflower," now a hugely successful nationwide effort. During this period she came into frequent contact with First Lady, Lady Bird Johnson, a strong supporter of the program. Eventually Aileen became chairperson of Roadside Beautification for the National Council of State Garden Clubs.

Aileen's family was also accomplished. Her brothers included a scientist, a doctor and successful businessmen and military officers. Her son, Clarence R. was a key figure in the space program at Cal Tech's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Daughter, Barbara is a skilled musician and artist. Ronald practiced medicine as an Ophthalmologist in Tulsa for many years and son, David, an internationally known musician is noted for both composing and performing.

Service will be held Friday, October 1, 2004, at 10 a.m. at Memorial Park Cemetery Chapel. Family suggests contributions may be made to the Up With Trees organization. Feel free to share you memories with the family at www.morefuneral.com by clicking on ultimate tributes. Moore's Southlawn Chapel, 663-2233.

SOURCE: Tulsa World online