Mrs. Wauneda Scarlata, 95, passed away early Friday morning.

Mrs. Scarlata was born in Bem, Missouri on July 18, 1927 to George and Lena (Lea) Bruens (nee Glaser). As a young woman, she moved to St. Louis where she met and married Major Henry Ruff, US Army, of Billings, Montana. For the following 25 years she was a military wife and mother. Wauneda had two children, Karin, and Michael. With them and her husband, she traveled the world. Eventually, the family landed in San Antonio, Texas at Ft Sam Houston, where now Colonel Ruff retired. Wauneda was also a real estate broker, but most fondly remembered her time working in the Pathology Dept. at Letterman Hospital at the Presidio of San Francisco.

Wauneda remarried to Alfred Scarlata and lived in Rockport and Tyler, Tx. She shared Al's love of flying and spoiling grandkids. She enjoyed painting, cooking, and her pet dogs and was always on the lookout for unusual driftwood on the beach. She also had a soft spot for Willie Nelson and underdogs in general. After "Al" passed away, Mrs. Scarlata lived in Tyler, Waco and ultimately, Lewisville, Texas, always close to her daughter, Karin, and son-in-law Barry, who took good care of "Meme" as Wauneda was affectionately called.

Mrs. Scarlata was preceded in death by her husbands, Col. Henry Ruff and Alfred Scarlata, and her sister, Earline Niles. She is survived by a daughter, Karin Gilliam and husband Barry, of Lewisville, Tx, and a son, Michael Ruff, and wife Teresa, of Raleigh, NC; grandchildren, Christina Moore and husband Joe of Flower Mound, Tx, Grant Gilliam and wife Amanda of Carrollton, Tx, David Ruff and wife Meredith of Raleigh, NC, and Dr. Jessica Klein and husband Kevin of Boston, MA; great grandchildren, Olivia Ruff, Ethan Ruff, James Henry Klein, William Klein, Mary Klein and Robert Gilliam; nieces Jean Szerzinski, Linda Koester, and Sue Brown; nephews Pat Ferguson and Tom Ferguson, and cousins too numerous to list, all of St. Louis.

Donations in Wauneda's name can be made to: Vitas Healthcare (Hospice) at VITAS.com or to your local Humane Society

Arrangements by: All Texas Cremation. Condolences at www.alltexascremation.com

A celebration of her life will be held on a future date.