AUBURN, Ala. – Wayland Arthur “W.A.” Shands Jr. was born Sept. 22, 1933, in Grand Junction, Colo., and passed away June 11, 2012, at Oak Park Nursing Home, Auburn, Ala. He was 78 years old.
He was a member of Church of Universal Fellowship, Orono. Mr. Shands was a member of Auburn Lions Club and Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity. Mr. Shands graduated from the University of Maine. After receiving his master’s degree from Delaware University, he joined the Army. After his honorable discharge he pursued further graduate studies at Penn State. He taught at Auburn University for 35 years and was chairman of the East Alabama Regional Science Fair for several years. He coached many of his sons’ youth sports teams with Auburn Parks and Recreation department. He was an avid gardener, bird enthusiast and pet lover.
He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Lois Cassidy Shands; his three children, Patricia M. Shands of Stockton, Calif., James A. Shands and wife, Nancy, of Birmingham, Ala., and Michael D. Shands of Birmingham, Ala.; and one grandchild, James Alexander “Alex” Shands.
Visitation will be held 5-7 p.m. Thursday, June 21, at Fredericks Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to National Kidney Foundation or a charity of your choice. Fredericks Funeral Home is directing.
www.fredericksfh.com