Wanda Stamatovitch-Clark

Wanda Lou Stamatavich Clark, age 87 of Langley, OK, left our world, peacefully, with her family at her bedside in the early morning hours of October 5, 2025.

Wanda was born March 19, 1938, to Vernice M. and Marion L. Wright in Vandervoort, AR. They lived in Idabel, OK. until they moved to Oklahoma City in 1951. She graduated from U.S Grant High School in 1956.

Following graduation, Wanda went to work at Travelers Insurance in Oklahoma City for 6 years. Her sister, Bonnie, and her husband, Ross Hearn, suggested she accompany them to California where Ross was stationed at Vandenberg Air Force Base. Ross and Bonnie returned to Oklahoma City in 1962, but Wanda decided she liked California and moved to Los Angeles.

Wanda went to work as a secretary at Look Magazine where she struck up a great friendship with a lady named Cleo Smith.

After leaving Look she landed a job as Travel Assistant on TV game show, Queen for a Day, which was canceled shortly after she set up her desk there.

Her good friend, Cleo Smith, mentioned there was a job opening at Desilu Productions as an assistant to Lucille Ball, (who just happened to be Cleo's cousin). Lucy hired Wanda without even an interview based simply on Cleo's recommendation and she became Lucy's right arm for the next 28 years - until Ball's death in 1989.

Lucille's daughter, entertainer-producer, Lucie Arnaz, shared this online, "Wanda Clark Stamatovitch, one of the finest human beings I ever knew, passed, peacefully, in her sleep this morning after 87 years of gracing our lives with her smile and her inspiring energy. Wanda began working as my mother's secretary when I was about 11. She was the Matron of Honor at my first wedding. She traveled across the globe to catch any performance of mine or my brother's that she could get to, including attending our daughter's wedding. She had a memory like an elephant and a heart the same size. Everyone she met loved her. She and our late amanuensis, Frank Gorey, (who also knew me since I was four feet tall), stayed in my brother, Desi's and my life for decades after my mother passed. She was my North Star. Wanda and Frank's spirit of joy and pure kindness are responsible for most of anything good in me. I know she is experiencing pure bliss right now and being welcomed home by so many familiar faces. It is we who must deal with the void she left. Our love goes out to her sisters and family in Oklahoma and beyond. Larry and I and our whole family hold metaphysical hands with her chosen Desilu, too family, Michael Stern, Tom Watson, Rick Carl, Laura Johansen, Ric Wyman, Stuart Shostak and many, many others, who adored her as we did.

Fly swift on angels' wings, beautiful Wanda. You lived a perfect life."

After Lucy's passing. Wanda worked for several celebrities including: Mrs. Marvin Davis, Victoria Principal, talent agent Roger Vorce, producer, Ray Stark and Melody Thomas Scott.

Wanda was a founding board member of the Lucille Ball - Desi Arnaz Center in Jamestown, NY. She loved animals (poodles, in particular) and, over the years, welcomed many fur people in need of a loving environment into her home.

Wanda was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Peter Stamatovich and sister, Bonnie Hearn.

She is survived by her sister Marian (Robert Mushtare of Edmond, OK), her sister Beverly (Dan Boultinghouse of Langley OK), nephew Scott Hearn (Oklahoma City), niece Shelley (David Burgett of Moore, OK) and many other great-nieces and nephews.

Cremation Arrangements have been entrusted to Simplicity Burial & Oklahoma Cremation Centers. Friends and family may leave condolences and kind words of comfort at https://www.simplicityburialcremation.com