Obituary of Sandra Louise Wadhams

Sandra Wadhams passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her loving family on December 19th due to complications from a fall. Sandra was born in Santa Cruz, California to Frederick and Carol (Main) Clapp. She graduated from Campbell High School in 1959. After high school, she married Dwight Cook and had two daughters. Due to a tragic motorcycle accident, Sandra was widowed at a young age. Her high school sweetheart John Wadhams proposed to her in 1963 when he returned from the military and they had son Chris. The family built their dream home in the Santa Cruz Mountains above Scotts Valley. Sandy was a stay at home mother who actively supported all her children’s interests which included 4-H, church activities, camping and sports. During this time, she developed a lifelong passion for horses and took many wonderful horse trips with family and friends. The family later moved to Watsonville where there was ample room for horses. She loved children and attended Cabrillo College to become a pre-school teacher, advancing to Director before retiring in 1998. Family and friends described her as extremely kind and thoughtful. After her 3 children were grown and the passing of her husband John, she found a soul mate in Alfonso Arruiza. They married and traveled the world together, frequently visiting their favorite place in Maui. In her later years she enjoyed Bible study groups and volunteered at the Capitola Museum and most recently the Seacliff State Beach Museum. She was preceded in death by her husband’s: Dwight Cook, John Wadhams, and Alfonzo Arruiza. Sandy had 3 devoted children: Jody (Michael) Lopez of Scotts Valley, Ronda (Gerry) Hatcher of Scotts Valley and Chris (Kate) Wadhams of Santa Cruz. She was very involved with her eight grandchildren: Brian Guzman; Kristina Lopez; Maxwell Chinevere; Nathan Chinevere; Samuel Chinevere (deceased), Abigail Hatcher; Anders Wadhams and Karsten Wadhams. She also had one great grandchild; Cliff Chinevere and was eagerly awaiting a great granddaughter due in March. She will be missed greatly by all who knew her. Due to the current COVID-19 outbreak, a memorial will be held in the spring.