MIDLAND – Wanda Leigh Worley Sides passed away peacefully on January 29, 2022, at her home at the Village of Manor Park in Midland, Texas. She was born Wanda Leigh Setzer on June 27, 1932, in Big Spring, Texas to Velma Shults and Wesley Joy Setzer. When she was six weeks old, she moved to Ector County to live with her grandparents, John and Lillie Shults, who resided on a farm where Gardendale is now located. She remained with her grandparents until her mother married Virgil Noell Worley at which time she legally took the Worley name. Wanda attended Odessa schools all of her life, graduating from Odessa High School in 1949. She attended Odessa College until February of 1950 when she went to work for Shell Oil Company at their TXL Gas Plant in Notrees.
In April 1950 Wanda became reacquainted with a former classmate, Arlin Sides, who she often stated was her “one and only love.” The couple became roller-skating partners and won several awards in competitions throughout Texas. She always said that Arlin kept trying to skate away but she finally caught him and they were married on April 8, 1953, a marriage that would last 60 years, until his death in May 2013. The marriage produced three daughters: Donna, Dodie, and Danna.
In June of 1953 the couple moved to the Phillips Gas Plant camp in Goldsmith as Arlin was a Phillips Petroleum Company employee. In 1964 they built a house in Odessa and returned to live there although Arlin continued to work in Goldsmith. Wanda began working as a clerk at the Ector County Tax Office and then as the Bookkeeper/Office Manager for H.V. Stone Construction Co. In 1973 she became Executive Secretary/Administrative Assistant for Charles Perry of Perry Gas Companies, Inc. Shortly before the company merged with Parker Drilling Company, she was promoted to Assistant Vice-President/Administrative. After Perry Gas was dissolved, she became Bookkeeper/Business Manager for Wilson Gas Processing and Rino Equipment Company. In 1986, Wanda retired to become a full-time housewife/mother. After a short “vacation,” she founded Sides Business Service. In 1997 she became Business Manager for J.C. Roberts Construction Company. In 2005 she retired “for good” as she said.
During her active years, Wanda was president of the Odessa Regional Hospital Auxiliary, treasurer of the Altrusa Women’s Club, on the board of directors for United Way, and held various offices in local school band booster clubs. She was also known as an adoptive grandma for several of the Odessa College baseball and basketball teams. Wanda was also well-known for her work with the Odessa High School alumni as she organized several class reunions over the years. She was considered class historian and maintained records and addresses of OHS alumni for numerous graduating classes.
Wanda is survived by her daughters, Donna Lind and husband, Kenneth of Ruidoso, NM, Dodie Cashell and husband, Larry, of Austin, TX, Danna Thornton and husband, Greg, of North Richland Hills, TX, six grandchildren, Nathan Lind, Elizabeth Gibbs and her husband, Luke, Austin Cashell, Bryce Cashell, Megan Thornton, Mark Thornton and his wife, Kendyl, and four great-grandchildren.
She will lie in state Friday, February 11th from 1-4 PM and Saturday, February 12th from 8-10 AM at Frank W. Wilson Funeral Directors. Graveside services will be Saturday, February 12, 2022 at 11 AM at Sunset Memorial Gardens with Chaplain Bill Billett officiating.
In lieu of flowers, family requests memorials be made to the Permian Band Boosters in memory of Arlin and Wanda Sides in honor of their extensive work with many years of high school students participating in the program. Donations may be sent to Permian Band Boosters, c/o Spencer McBurney, President, 6004 Mecca St., Odessa, TX 79762.

Published by Odessa American on Feb. 6, 2022.