Wanda Lee (Ruckle) Kelley, 86 of Lafayette, died early Tuesday morning February 27^th, 2024, with her family by her side.  Wanda was born on June 5^th, 1937, in Lafayette to the late Cecil Dean and Mary Elizabeth (Coffel) Ruckle.  She was preceded in death by her brother Robert Dean Ruckle, her husband Phillip Michael Kelley, and her daughter Karla Ann Kelley.

Wanda was a 1955 graduate of Lafayette Jefferson High School and a 1959 graduate of Indiana Central College (which is now the University of Indianapolis).  Her major was elementary education.

She married Phillip Michael Kelley on August 16^th, 1959, in Lafayette.  They first met at Indiana Central, when a group of students were talking about birthdays.  Phillip and Wanda shared the same birthday, with Phillip being a year older.

Most of her time working as an elementary school teacher was in the Lafayette School Corporation, including the following elementary schools:  Centennial, Edgelea and Linwood.  Wanda was a member of the Grace United Methodist Church in Lafayette.

Wanda enjoyed watching men’s college basketball and rooting for the Indiana Hoosiers, especially during the Bob Knight era.  March Madness was always one of her favorite times of the year.  She enjoyed going to Lafayette Jeff Broncho football and basketball home games, and especially loved going to IHSAA state tournament games.  She always kept score of the game, and she gave the referees in the game the proper guidance on their calls.   In the summertime, she watched each and every Chicago Cubs baseball game, a routine she learned from her father, Cecil.

Wanda enjoyed traveling and always being in warm weather, especially at a beach. In her early retirement years, she enjoyed living in Florida during the winter months, even though it was on a golf course (Dad won that argument).   She loved shopping, especially in Chicago during Thanksgiving weekend to see the holiday lights and walk through the large department stores that were still in business during the 1970’s and 1980’s.  Her favorite store was Marshall Fields.  In Lafayette and Indianapolis, her favorite store was LS Ayers.  She especially enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and attending their sports events as well as teaching them how to do Sudoku.

Wanda is survived by her daughter Karen Kelley of Columbus, IN and son Bruce Kelley (Kristen) of Zionsville, IN as well as her grandchildren Anna Kelley, Cannon Kelley and Will Kelley.

Visitation will be on Saturday March 9^th from 9:00 am until the time of the memorial service at 11:00 am at Soller-Baker Lafayette Chapel, 400 Twyckenham Blvd.  A burial service at Rest Haven Cemetery will follow after the memorial service. In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to Grace United Methodist Church in Lafayette.