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.
My condolences to the family. Mrs. Wilbur was one of the best teachers at WJHS. She really knew how to instruct, and teach, the wealth of knowledge she had. Grateful to have learned from her.
I’m just now seeing this. She was one of my favorite English teachers. Wonderful lady too.
Mrs. Wilbur was an amazing teacher! She loved teaching, and her passion shined through every lesson she taught. I was blessed to have her has a teacher at West Junior High, and I loved seeing her at the hospital where she volunteered. A truly remarkable lady who will be missed.
Cor meum victus est amicissime, Marian! I am missing our lovely conversations ( in Latin snd French), and the fun we had those many years of volunteering at LMH , Information Desk… Pax tecum!🙏
I will forever remember Mrs Wilbur. She was my teacher when i went to WJHS. Love her so much. May she rest in peace. And sending prayers to her family!
Mrs. Wilbur was on the short list of most impactful teachers I had as a student in the Lawrence Public Schools. She was probably personally responsible for at least a couple of of my ACT/SAT points, and my professional path was most definitely made easier because of basics that she gently instilled which gave me an advantage early in my career. My thoughts are with your family
I was saddened to hear of Marian’s passing. I worked with her for many years at West Junior High and I admired and appreciated her professionalism and dedication to excellence in teaching. Many students reaped the benefits of being her English classes and being held to a high standard of learning. Students respected her and colleagues regarded her as a leader and a foundational member of the faculty. After she retired from teaching she continued to serve the community through volunteer efforts that included among others, LMH and the public library. Marian was a true lady and and asset to our community and she will be greatly missed.
Add me to the list of students who ranked her as one of my favorites! She was a fabulous teacher, who inspired us to learn. I will always especially remember her spelling and vocabulary tests. Not only did we learn to spell, but we learned Greek and Latin prefixes and suffixes. To this day, I can tell you the literal meaning of a word just by knowing those definitions. And your father was also wonderful. Sadly, I didn’t have him for Algebra but he substituted in my class one time for a few days. I learned more from him in those days than I learned the rest of the semester.
You have my heartfelt sympathy and prayers on the death of your beloved mother, a truly beautiful Christian woman and teacher. While she will be sorely missed here on earth, we rejoice knowing she has been born into eternal life. May you find some comfort in knowing that one day we will all be reunited in heaven.
God rest her soul and the souls of all the faithful departed. May she rest in peace.
She was a true lady.
The Wilburs were some of my children’s favorite teachers… always had wonderful things to say. Both were highly respected by students, peers and parents!
Marian was the volunteer coordinator at all of the tent sales at Lawrence Public Library when she befriended us and countless others. She always brought welcoming smiles, sweets, and a camera to the event, was impeccably dressed and so organized. Days after the sale, each volunteer received a personal thank you card and a photo thanking us for our service. Unbelievable. We looked forward to our time with her at every sale.
Several years went by as we watched Red come to take his love home each evening of the sale or just drop in to visit. At one of his visits we learned he and Marian were classmates of my parents at Kansas Wesleyan which then opened up a new relationship. These two people were instrumental in teaching everyone who came into their lives the true meaning of “ a life well lived.” I will remember each of them forever and am grateful for every moment I spent with them. Our condolences to their family.
Ellyn and I were so sorry to learn of the passing of your mom, Pat. Our thoughts are with you and Candi at this difficult time.
Marian and I started teaching at West the same year and became friends. Her abilities were astounding and hundreds of students would call her the best teacher they had. She spent many weekend afternoons at school preparing lessons and bulletin boards for the week. I will hold many, many memories of her contributions to every extra duty needed to keep West an inviting experience to all students. I will miss her every day.
Marian & Ray were our neighbors for over 38 years. They were an amazing couple and an inspiration to all of us. Ted & I are grateful for their friendship and our block won’t be the same. I can’t imagine the reunion they had in Heaven. Pray’s for their family as you walk this path of grief.
I was honored to know Marian and Ray.
Mrs. Wilbur was an exceptional teacher and a joy to learn from. My condolences to Mike and Patrick and families.