Wanda Gayle Walker Upham

Wanda Gayle Walker Upham, age 61, passed away March 10, 2016, at her home in Santa Rosa, CA. She was born September 6, 1954, in Baptist Hospital, Alexandria, LA, where she grew up. Gayle had such a sweet, kind, and gentle spirit. Growing up, she loved to ride horses, swim and ride bikes. She loved music and played several musical instruments in the band. Gayle always loved animals and while attending Rosenthal Grammar School, she took the family dog "Red" to school with her to have his picture taken along with hers. After graduation from Bolton High School in 1972, she attended LSU-A, then moved to the San Francisco Bay Area. She attended DeAnza Junior College in Cupertino, CA, and worked as an Administrative Assistant for the Physics and Astronomy Department at Stanford University for many years. Gayle was married to Stephen Holmes Upham for 29 wonderful years and resided in Santa Rosa, CA. She worked for the Physics and Astronomy Department at Sonoma State University where she retired. She and Steve enjoyed sailing with friends and travelling. She also excelled at vegetarian cooking. Gayle is preceded in death by her mother, Hilda Rice Walker; father, Leslie Norton Walker Sr.; and brother, Leslie Norton Walker Jr. She is survived by her husband Stephen Holmes Upham of Santa Rosa, CA; stepdaughter Karen Upham Durando (Dylan) and their two daughters, Chloe and Kyra of Rohnert Park, CA; sister Jane Elizabeth Walker of Alexandria, LA. She also leaves behind her loving Papillon companion Layla, who took great care of her. Gayle wished to be cremated. A Memorial Service will be held May 1, 2016, in Santa Rosa for friends and family to celebrate her life. The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, a donation be made to Sonoma Humane Society (http://sonomahumane.org), 5345 Highway 12 West, Santa Rosa, CA, 95407, (707-542-0882), where she and Steve adopted several homeless dogs over the years. The family wishes to thank two wonderful caregivers, Brittany and Sereana, along with Memorial Hospice of Santa Rosa, CA, for the loving care and support they provided to Gayle, so that she was able to spend her last days in comfort in her own home. Family Directed Memorial Service Sunday, May 01, 2016