Wanda J. Sanches

Wanda J. Sanches of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, passed away in Covington, Louisiana on Friday, June 19, 2026. She was born January 18, 1930, to Hannah Olivia Rembert Sanches and Walter J. Sanches, Sr.

Wanda graduated from St. Joseph’s Academy and studied physical education and accounting at LSU. She was a natural born athlete and excelled at any sport she attempted, including swimming, horseback riding, basketball, softball, and golf. Her father set out to create a champion athlete and with daily softball pitching rain or shine, he did just that! 

Wanda began playing softball at age 16 and became one of the leading softball pitchers in the country, leading her team to five consecutive national championship tournaments. In 1952 she was voted the outstanding women’s National softball fielding pitcher and the most valuable player in the regional softball tournaments. She was the most talked about “hurler” to ever be developed locally and was sought after by many top professional teams, turning down an offer to join a leading professional team in Chicago, because she didn’t want to leave her family in Baton Rouge.

That same year, she participated as a member of a women’s basketball team in the national championships.

Wanda would switch between softball and golf a few times and in 1949 decided golf would be a more lucrative career and with little or no instruction began playing. She won the Baton Rouge City championship in 1953 and was runner-up in the Louisiana State championship in 1954. Wanda competed in the national amateur circuit in 1955 but became prominent in 1956 when she won the Florida East Coast championship; World Amateur championship in Chicago; was finalist in the women’s Southern, and quarterfinalist in the National Amateur. Wanda would turn professional by joining the LPGA in 1957 and tour the US for ten years before joining Sunset Country Club as an assistant teaching professional winning the course record of 72.

She would later retire to Monterrey, Louisiana on the bayou where she would enjoy many years of hunting and fishing with her close friend and companion Connie St. Romain before eventually moving back to Baton Rouge to be closer to family.

She is preceded in death by her parents Hannah Olivia Rembert Sanches and Walter J. Sanches Sr.; her brother, Walter J Sanches Jr.; and her close friend and companion, Connie St. Romain.

Wanda was survived by her beloved sister Dorothy “Dot” Seal; her niece, Renee G. Cedotal (Larry); nephews, Michael A Greenblatt, Louis K. Greenblatt (Christine), Glenn A. Greenblatt (Phil); great nieces, Courtney C. Maher (Kyle), Maci A. Greenblatt, Erinn G. Smith (Bobby); great-nephews, Miles A. Greenblatt (Stacy), Dr. Ethan L. Greenblatt (Ashton), Taylor A. Greenblatt (Nicole), Christian P. Greenblatt; 5 great-great nieces and 3 great-great nephews, as well as numerous neighbors and friends throughout Louisiana.

The family would like to give special thanks to The Peristyle at Beau West, Christwood Retirement Community (Longleaf), and Modern Home and Health Hospice (Leah and Kristen) for their loving care and support.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend the Funeral Mass at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 25, 2026, at St. George Catholic Church, 7808 St. George Drive in Baton Rouge. A Visitation will be held at St. George Catholic Church beginning at 9:30 a.m. Entombment will follow at St. George Catholic Church Cemetery.