Wanda Jo Peltier Stapleton

Wanda Jo Peltier Stapleton passed away peacefully at home in Albuquerque, NM on her 90th birthday. Wanda was born July 26, 1933, in Checotah, Oklahoma to Zethel and Richard Gramlich.

Wanda is survived by daughters, Suzanne Jacobi and Teresa Mitts and partner, Bob Harris; her sister, Vanda Boyles; grandchildren, Jenica Jacobi, Jora Jacobi and husband, Carsten Jensen, Julie Jacobi, Bobby McKinney, and Brian Mitts; great-grandchildren, Kain Mitts and Oscar Jensen. She was preceded in death by husband, Robert Stapleton.

After Wanda's young husband, Billy Wilson, passed away in 1960, she returned to school and became the first college graduate of her family. A single mother, she was teaching at a university and asked for health benefits for her daughters. She was told to get married to qualify for those benefits. Instead, she retained legal services and sued the university for seven counts of sex discrimination.

Unable to find employment as an educator after her lawsuit, she became involved with the National Women's Political Caucus and the National Organization for Women and was appointed Chairperson of the Oklahoma Commission on the Status of Women. She was committed to women's issues and frequently said, "We've got to bring about social change."

Wanda owned a technical writing company, Peltier Pen Productions, from 1977-1986 and served in the Oklahoma House of Representatives from1986-1996.

Wanda always loved poetry and literature. She frequently recited Shakespeare or Emily Dickinson and Robert Frost.

A Celebration of Life will take place from 2:00 -4:00 p.m. on Friday August 18, 2023 on the 4th floor Rotunda of the Oklahoma State Capitol, 2300 N. Lincoln Blvd. Oklahoma City. Donations may be made to Planned Parenthood or a charity of your choice.