Wanda R. Tunning

Wanda Ruth Tunning (née Helton), widow of Edwin Patrick Tunning, died peacefully after a long battle with cancer on the morning of September 27, 2023 at the age of 84. She was a loving mother to Sean Patrick (Joelle) Tunning and proud grandmother of Connor Patrick Tunning. Sister to Robert (Marlene) Helton and aunt to Lisa Spurling and Linda Harper.

Wanda was born on December 23, 1938 in Arjay, Kentucky to Clarence Lester Helton and Gladys Mae Bradshaw. After the family moved to Cincinnati, Wanda graduated from Hughes High School in 1956. She worked as a bill collector until meeting the dashing and practical Edwin Patrick Tunning, whom she married on September 11, 1971. She became an enthusiastic homemaker and three years later, they became parents to Sean Patrick Tunning. Wanda and Pat were incredibly supportive parents, capably guiding their son into adulthood. They dutifully attended every single one of Sean’s games as he became actively involved in sports, eventually focusing on football and his favorite sport of baseball. As a grandmother, she continued that tradition of supporting family, attending the recitals, performances and sporting events of her grandson Connor as often as she was able. 

Wanda was an avid volunteer at heart. When her son was little, she became the treasurer for the Lakota Tomahawks Youth Football Organization. She was an active member of the Cardinal Chapter #140, Order of the Eastern Star as their treasurer. She was also a member of the Inner Guard of the Ladies Oriental Shrine of North America Bona Court #8, having retired as a Unit Leader. In addition, Wanda was a member of the Daughters of the Nile. She spent many happy years involved with these organizations, traveling and connecting with others locally and across the nation. Wanda was also a long-time volunteer at Shriners Hospital for Children in Cincinnati. Toward the end of Wanda’s mother Gladys’ life, she supported the staff at the Cottingham Retirement Community, where her mother resided – calling bingo, leading art classes and generally being of use to the staff and residents there. 

Wanda did love to travel and had many opportunities to do that through her volunteer and civic organizations. One of the highlights of her travel experiences was visiting her son Sean and his wife Joelle in 2005 while they were living in Oxford, England. Wanda and her husband Pat stayed with Sean and Joelle for a week and then enjoyed a 21-day bus tour throughout the country, with stops in Scotland, England and Wales. 

Visitation will be held on Monday, October 9 at Hodapp Funeral Home, 8815 Cincinnati-Columbus Road (Route 42), West Chester, Ohio 45069 from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. Funeral service at Hodapp and burial at Arlington Memorial Gardens immediately following the visitation. Donations in Wanda’s memory can be made to Shriners Childrens Ohio at https://www.shrinerschildrens.org/en/locations/ohio/.