Wanetia Leah Stover Carroll

Wanetia Leah Stover Carroll was born January 8, 1934, in Leedey, Oklahoma, to Lena Jane Stover and Willie Leo Stover. She had one older brother, Eugene Stover, now deceased.

Wanetia entered elementary school in 1940 at Turner School, Turner, Kansas. She graduated in 1952 from Argentine High School, Argentine, Kansas. Wanetia completed three years of training at Bethany Hospital School of Nursing in Kansas City, Kansas, graduating in 1955 as a registered nurse.

Wanetia met Robert Melvin Carroll, Airman 1st Class, USAF, on a blind date in Topeka, Kansas, in March 1955. They were soon engaged in April and married on December 16, 1955, in Kansas.

They began their married life in Kansas. Wanetia worked as a nurse, while Bob in the AirForce was often away. They moved frequently when Bob was reassigned bases. Each of their three children was born in a different state: Curtis in Kansas 1956, Ronald in Tennessee 1957, and Alan in Washington 1965. In total, the family lived in Kansas, Tennessee, New Mexico, Washington, North Carolina, and finally Georgia.

Wanetia continued her nursing career in each location, taking off brief periods to welcome each new baby. After Alan was born, she took a seven year break, returning again to nursing in 1972.

When Bob retired from active duty in 1974, the Carroll family settled in Warner Robins, Georgia. Bob soon was employed as a civilian aircraft mechanic at the base. Wanetia worked at Houston County Medical Center and Perry Hospital until her retirement in 1996.

Bob’s diagnosis of Multiple Myeloma in 1993 interrupted their happy retirement plans. Wanetia, always the nurse, lovingly cared for Bob through the ups and downs of years of cancer treatments. Bob and Wanetia celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with family and friends in 2005.

After Bob passed on to heaven in 2006, Wanetia returned as a volunteer at Houston Medical soon after. She spent 15 years as a faithful and friendly hospital volunteer until retiring once again at age 86 in 2020.

Wanetia came to know Christ as her Savior as a young girl. She was known for displaying gentle Christlike kindness and character in her home and work for 92 years. On February 2, 2026, Wanetia entered heaven to meet the Savior and her beloved Bob.

Wanetia Leah Stover Carroll is survived by her three children: Curtis (Debbie Mercer) Carroll, and grandchildren Mandy (Brandon Hill), Hannah (Zachary Andrews), and Zac; Ron (Peggy Dickinson) Carroll, and grandchildren Matt (Pam Bowling), Lydia (Tyler Roberts), and Tim (Deborah Dersch); Alan (Susan Rowlett) Carroll, and grandchildren Ryan (Rebecca Ward), and Meagan (Caleb Moore); and 13 great-grandchildren: Emily, Isaac, and Aiden Hill; Ethan Andrews; Findley and Felicity Carroll; Evangeline Roberts; Evelyn, Ellie, Emma, and James Carroll; Ruby Carroll; Josephine Moore.

Visitation will be Friday, February 6, 2026, from 1:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. at McCullough Funeral Home with a funeral service immediately following. Afterward, Wanetia will be laid to rest in CEMETERY.

Go to www.mcculloughfh.com to sign the Online Registry for the family. McCullough Funeral Home and Crematory has the privilege of being entrusted with these arrangements.