Susan Wilburn
1932-2021
Susan Wilburn died on January 22, 2021, from complications of COVID-19.
Born on January 27, 1932, in Columbus, Ohio, to John Henry and Etha Marie (Brake) Parks, Susan spent her childhood in West Jefferson and Shaker Heights, Ohio, before her father's work took her family to California. She attended Van Nuys High School and formed a friendship with Barbara (Weaver) LaComette that lasted for 74 years. In 1950, Susan met a young, handsome Marine named Donald Wilburn and fell in love. The couple married on June 9, 1951, in Van Nuys, California. Working as a team, they built a family in southern California, raising two daughters, Donna and Laureen.
As Don pursued his career in computing, Susan worked at various companies, from Capital Records to oil and gas corporations, in secretarial positions. Anyone who met Susan at the office would immediately notice her impeccable taste, a trait she kept her entire life. Her sophisticated style rivaled any chic Parisian woman, and she never left her home without accessories or her lipstick. Along with her refinement, Susan also had a razor-sharp wit and was a remarkable mimic. She had no qualms about speaking her mind, but never with the intent to offend. Susan instead energized the room with her voice and kept everyone laughing.
Whether her home was in California, Texas, or Oklahoma, Susan was a fixture of her neighborhood and created long-lasting friendships in every city she lived. She always kept her house immaculate and ready to entertain. Any of her visiting great-grandchildren would find a supply of their favorite snacks in GG's kitchen. For her grandchildren, Grandma Wilburn's home was a place of solace and comfort that will never be replaced.
Susan is survived by her daughters, Donna Hill of Grove and Laureen Byrd of Edmond; her grandchildren: Steve Perkins, of Houston, TX; Jennifer Corley of Norman; Gary Hill of Yukon, and Christi Hinkle of Edmond, and nine great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother John Jefferson (Jeff) Parks, her husband of 58 years, Donald, and her grandson Shawn Byrd.
In lieu of flowers, the Wilburn family would like to honor Susan's enduring love of cats and requests donations be sent to Free to Live Animal Sanctuary, Edmond, OK. Please wear a mask, wash your hands, and get vaccinated, remembering that you may protect a cherished life such as hers.