Biography: Wanda Faulkner Oxford, 91, of Little Rock died at the Baptist Memorial Medical Center on Monday. January 24th, 2011. Mrs. Oxford was born Wanda Mae Faulkner on January 20th, 1920 in Pittsburg Kansas and was the daughter of Drexel Dorr Faulkner and Martha Pearl Bilyeu (both deceased). While in high school she began writing and publishing poetry in local newspapers, for which she was awarded a college scholarship. While in high school she sang on a local radio station. Immediately after graduation her esthetic sensibilities won her a job as a buyer in the fashion industry in Springfield, Missouri. Later she attended Memphis State University in Memphis, Tennessee and the University of Arkansas in Little Rock, Arkansas. Later in life, her artistic fair focused on interior decoration and for a time she owned and operated a commercial design center called Oxford House in Galesburg, Illinois, where she was a color consultant for a national paint manufacturer. Her devoted husband frequently observed that, ?She could make a beautiful home out of a shoebox?. Together they designed and built five new homes in five states and renovated others including the current family home in Little Rock as her career followed the changing locations dictated by Mr. Oxford?s career. She met her husband, J. Lyle Oxford at a high school dance, and they later became known for their ballroom dancing skills. They married on November 2, 1940 and shared a deep, loving relationship for the next 70 years. Survivors include Mr. J. Lyle Oxford, one son, J. Craig Oxford of Nashville, Tennessee, one nephew, Glen E. Hastings , M.D. and wife Magda Rocha Hastings of Pittsburg, Kansas. Grand neices include Elizabeth Kraus of Tampa, Florida, Caroling Carpenter of Ft. Weir, Florida and Magda Valdes of Madison, Wisconsin and Elisa Uriarti fo Santa Maria, California and one grand nephew, Richard Hastings of Parkland, Florida. Special friends include Susan and Bill Roehrenbeck and their five sons, Billy, Brad, Ryan, Scott and Keith Roehrenbeck, Jean Bauman, Joyce Holt, Kanya Raja and Deepak Raja. Wanda?s niece, Judith Hastings Tyra, her sister Lois Hastings and brother Max Faulkner of Santa Maria, California preceded Mrs. Oxford in death. A private celebration of Wanda?s long and eventful life was held on January 27th, 2011, in the Rose Garden of the Second Presbyterian Church. Attendance was limited to the immediate family and special friends, all of whom will dearly miss her friendly, gentle manner, her artistic creativity and her sage advice. www.ruebelfuneralhome.com.