About Wanda

Wanda Burch Goines (1923 - 2016), mother of eight, grandmother of sixteen, great-grandmother of four, was born in Dade City, Florida on February 9th, 1923 to William Odus Burch and Enid May Peters. She resided in Cave Junction, Oregon, until her marriage in 1944 to Warren Charles Goines (1921 - 2002), a civil engineer, to whom she was married for fifty-eight years. In 1992, she and warren returned to Cave Junction and the house her father had built, where she lived for the rest of her life.

Wanda was a graduate of the University of Oregon, She graduated with a B.A. in architecture (summa cum laude). She later studied modern dance at the University of Wisconsin.

In addition to raising her eight children, Wanda taught herself New Testament Greek and Old Testament Hebrew, as well as German, so she could better to understand Biblical texts and the commentaries of Martin Luther. This complimented her Classical Latin, which she had taken in Illinois Valley High School, from which she graduated in 1939.

She was a professional artist and talented amateur musician. Her artwork and sculpture grace the NICU unit of Alta Bates Hospital in Berkeley as well as the homes of her friends, children, and grandchildren. She was also a poet and writer, with one published book, “Bunnyfluff Wants to Fly,” (Alta Bates, 2010).

In 1993 at her 50 year class reunion from The University of Oregon, Wanda lists her 50 year highlights as; marriage to a civil engineer in 1944; birth of each of her 8 children; meeting Jesus Christ as her saviour at age 25; five trips to Israel; lecturing in Jakarta, Indonesia for two weeks; two trips to Honduras to paint murals; and 23 moves in five states and British Columbia.

She modestly shared that her time is spent doing family projects, teaching and attending bible classes, praying, gardening, canning, and painting.

Wanda's participation in the community of Cave Junction largely centered around her active roles in the Takilma Bible Church, which included prayer and Bible studies, as well as preparing and delivering her weekly "Wanda Report" on the status of Christians around the world.

Not content with her many accomplishments, nor slowing down as she neared the finish line of her long life, in September of 2015, Wanda recited one of her poems, "The Gift-Wrap and the Jewel." The video was viewed millions of times, reaching a worldwide audience, including ABC News, Woman's Day, the Huffington Post, Britain's Daily Mail and others.

Peacefully and quietly, holding the hands of two of her sons, she was gathered into the arms of the Lord on February 5th, 2016, just a few days before her 93rd birthday. She is survived by five children, fifteen grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.