Bellville Times

Suzanne Theresa "Suzie" Wybro was born November 27, 1946 in Savannah,
Georgia, to parents Alco and Carolyn Ward. Her parents divorced, and she and
her sister were raised in Atlanta by her mother and step-father, George
Huchling. Suzie attended North Clayton High School where she was a majorette
in the band. Suzie also participated in various beauty contests when she was
a teenager, and was runner up in the Tri-Cities Beauty Contest in 1964.
Suzie loved to sing, dance, and play the accordian. Suzie and her sister,
Joan, sang together at family and local gatherings, and entertained with
their sweet and perfect harmony whenever they were together. A back-up
vocalist to singers, Tommy Ray in the 60s, Suzie also performed at various
places in the Atlanta area, including USO shows.
She was a very independent gal, and loved to be with people. While serving
as the manager of the CDC building in Atlanta, she met her future husband,
Pete Wybro, who was in college on a summer break working as a janitor for
Suzie.
When Suzie's mom passed away in 1970, she went to Washington, DC where she
worked for AAA, and happened to be in the nearby Charlottesville Virginia
visiting a friend, when she "re-met" Pete, and they fell in love.
Suzie and Pete went to go to Hawaii together, where he was doing graduate
work. They were married in Hawaii in November 23, 1971 in a civil ceremony,
and Suzie supported the family, first working for a realty management
company, then as a coordinator At the East-West Center at the University of
Hawaii, while Pete completed his schooling. Because they loved the ocean,
they bought a large, partially-completed sailboat, finished it out and
lived, sailed and cruised all over the Hawaiian Islands for 5 years with
their dog, Max, living off the ocean. In her spare time, Suzie took evening
college courses at Chaminage College in Honolulu.
After leaving Hawaii in 1977, they went to Texas City initially, then bought
a small house and moved to Houston in 1978. Suzie worked for Conoco until
1980 when first son, Scott, was born. The family then moved to Richmond,
Texas in 1982, where they had their second son, Mike. A devoted,
stay-at-home mom, Suzie enjoyed being active in her sons' lives,
volunteering in the various pre-schools and schools, coaching soccer,
serving as Boy Scout Den Mother, and was also very active in the community.
The family has been members of Faith Lutheran Church in Sugarland where Suzie
worked at the school as nurse, substitute teacher and assisted wherever she
was needed. She loved children, and loved being a part of the school.
She also loved to dance. She was very active in the church dance ministry,
which performed at the church and around the Houston area. She introduced
dancing with the flags, and always moved and uplifted the congregation with
her flag snaps. At home she loved to tap dance, and entertain her family.
In 1993, the family bought a small house in the country and moved to
Bellville, Texas. Suzie continued her active involvement with children, and
was the volunteer coordinator for the schools her boys attended. Suzie knew
almost all the kids, and worked with them, their parents, and the teachers
to try to make things happen. An active band volunteer, she traveled all
over Texas, California and even Japan with the Bands of America in 1999.
When Scott and Michael finished high school, she worked for her husband's
engineering company. She managed the accounting, doing all the things that
nobody thought about or wanted to do. She loved working with the people on a
personal level, and was the "heart" of the company.
In January 2002, Suzie was diagnosed with Stage 4 brain cancer. She was
given only a few months to live. The family moved back to Houston to be
closer to the medical center and to Pete's work. She fought cancer for
several years, and after three surgeries, and extensive treatment at MD
Anderson Cancer Center, her cancer went into remission. she was such a
fighter and had such a determined spirit, that one of her close friends once
said "cancer didn't have a chance with Suzie." The cancer left her partially
paralyzed, but she never gave up hope, and did amazing things in spite of
it.
Suzie and Pete returned to Hawaii in 2005, this time with Mike, Scott,
daughter-in-law Stephanie, and granddaughter Kaylie, where they renewed
their wedding vows in a Hawaiian ceremony on the beach.
Suzie life was always filled with much hope and determination. Scott
gradutated from West Point and became a Captain in the Army, and Michael
graduated from Baylor with a degree in engineering. She raised her boys to
be fine men. She was a loving and supportive wife, who helped her husband's
company become one of the most respected offshore engineering companies. She
was always encouraging and uplifting, and her life was a testimony to her
deep faith and love of God.
Suzie touched so many people's lives: her family, friends, and people she
had not previously met. "Stranger" was not in her vocabulary, and she was
compassionate and open to everyone she came to know.
She passed away after a long courageous battle on Sunday, April 15, 2007 at
her home in Houston, surrounded by family. She is survived by her devoted
husband, Pete Wybro of Houston, sons, Captain Scott Wybro, US Army, and his
wife Stephanie, Ft. Benning, GA and Michael Wybro of Jersey Village, TX,
granddaughter Kaylie Wybro of Ft. Benning, GA, sister Joan Walker and her
husband Tony, Atlanta, GA, nieces Carol Heard and Cate Suber, nephew Larry
Edwards, and many dear friends. Suzie was preceded in death by her parents.
The memorial service took place at 4:30 pm, Thursday, April 19, 2007 at
Faith Lutheran Church, 800 Brooks St., Sugarland, TX 77478 with Reverend Jim
Thomas officiating.
The private family interment was at Morton Cemetery in Richmond, Texas.
In lieu of usual rememberances, friends who wish may make memorial gifts to:
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, % Suzanne T. Wybro Fund,
PO Box 4486, Houston, TX 77219-4486. For credit card donations, please call
1-800-525-5841.

Posted by Joy Neely