Etta Jo Wardchow

Long time Shawnee resident, Etta Jo (Carpenter) Wardchow, age 91, passed peacefully in her sleep on April 6, 2025, due to heart failure.

Mom was born in Davis, Oklahoma, to B.F. and Ollie May (Porter) Carpenter, the third of three children. In 1937 the family moved to Shawnee, Oklahoma, where she spent the remainder of her life. She graduated from Shawnee High School in 1951 and married John H. H. Wardchow, Jr. in 1952.

Shortly after marriage, Mom began working at Federal National Bank “to make some extra money for Christmas” …38 years later she retired as a Branch Manager. She thoroughly enjoyed her career at the bank and expressed no regret in “staying so long”.

Over the years, Mom had several hobbies that she pursued including camping, fishing, traveling, and watching mystery and detective TV shows. She also enjoyed “bargain shopping”. She enjoyed nothing more than shopping for bargains at the grocery stores. When she sold her house and moved to an apartment, she had enough groceries to start her own store.

She was preceded in death by her husband; both of her parents; a sister and brother-in-law, Jimmie Ruth and Merle B. Lee; a brother and sister-in-law, Harvey G. and Betty Jo Carpenter; a son-in-law, Charles K. Humphrey; as well as several aunts, uncles and cousins.

She is survived by a daughter, Gerallyn Humphrey; a son and daughter-in-law, Tim and Nancy Wardchow; four grandchildren; five great grandchildren; two nephews; several cousins as well as numerous friends.

Per Mom’s request, there will not be any service. She requested that in lieu of flowers, please donate to the VFW in her name.