Lillian Sudlow

A full, rich, and long life ended with the passing of Lillian Doris Gehb Sudlow on November 23, 2022 in Lawrence, Kansas. Born on July 29, 1924, in Berkeley, California to Julius Gehb and Emma Lux Gehb, Lillian attended Thousand Oaks Elementary School and Berkeley High School. Both she and her sister Betty were talented artists, and Lillian had an early career as a commercial fashion artist. Though she was engaged to be married to someone else, her heart was won by Robert Sudlow at a USO dance in Alameda, California, where he was stationed as a Naval Aviator. They were married after World War II ended, and moved to Lawrence, Kansas, where Bob eventually became a professor of Drawing and Painting at the University of Kansas. Together they raised four children- Mary (Mitzi), Gretchen, Peter, and Amy. As a family, they did much traveling, including three sabbaticals to Europe and summers on the West or East Coast. Lillian continued traveling with friends, on her own, and with Elderhostel (now Road Scholar) well into her later years.

Lillian had a large and generous heart, and devoted much of her time to volunteering, including over twenty-five years with the Emergency Service Council in Lawrence. She also volunteered with Small World and was on the board of directors for the Social Service League and Warm Hearts. She spent an immeasurable amount of time volunteering to help people in need. Bright and independent, she was an avid reader, and audited many classes at the University of Kansas. Her knitting skills were legendary- she produced many Irish-style sweaters and hundreds of baby booties! She was a wonderful and devoted mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend.

Lillian was predeceased by her parents, sister Betty Kueneman, brothers Emrick and Dankmar Gehb, her sister, Betty Kueneman, and her daughters Amy and Mitzi. She is survived by daughter Gretchen, son Peter, sons-in-law Ron Smith, Tom Wiscarson, and David Barnes, and a granddaughter, grandson, and great-granddaughter. Her passing truly marks the end of an era and leaves a big hole in all of our hearts.