8/7/1932 – 4/16/2024
Lawrence, KS
Marian Mathews Wilbur, 91, of Lawrence, Kansas, passed away on April 16, 2024.
She was born in Blencoe, Iowa, on August 7, 1932, to Florence and Harry Mathews. She was the oldest of their two children, later joined by her brother Jerry.
Marian’s family eventually moved to Salina, Kansas, where she attended Salina High School and went on to graduate from Kansas Wesleyan University.
She then began a teaching career that would ultimately span 38 years including stops in Salina and McPherson, with the lion’s share spent at West Junior High School in Lawrence.
Marian married Raymond Wilbur on June 4, 1960. After spending a year in Lincoln, Nebraska, the couple moved to Bowling Green, Ohio, where Ray earned his master’s degree at Bowling Green State University, before moving to Lawrence after graduation, where Ray taught at Lawrence High School and Marian continued her career at WJHS.
After retirement from West, Marian taught at Bishop Seabury Academy, graded SAT essays, and learned Latin.
Marian loved quiz shows, mystery novels, and KU and Kansas City sports.
Survivors include her two sons and their wives, Mike and Katie of Wilton, CT and Patrick and Candi of Lawrence, her three grandsons, Davis of San Francisco, Jackson of Atlanta, and Weston of New York City, and her brother Jerry, and his wife Lynn, of North Kansas City, MO.
Memorial contributions may be made to Trinity Episcopal Church, Lawrence Meals on Wheels, Lawrence Public Library, and/or LMH Health Cancer Center.
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