Dec. 30, 1955 – June 24, 2022

The community is invited to a celebration of life for Susan Lynn Kilpatrick on Saturday, Oct. 8 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at St. Luke’s of the Mountains, 2563 Foothill Blvd. in La Crescenta. Those who would like to attend should visit www.suekilpatrick.com and click on the “Celebration Of Life RSVP” button.

Sue died June 24 with her family at her bedside after a brief, but valiant, struggle against illness.

Sue was born to Robert and Alice Collier in Glendale on Dec 30, 1955. The family moved to La Crescenta where Sue had a wonderful childhood growing up with her three sisters. At age 13, though, Sue unexpectedly became paraplegic requiring her to use a wheelchair for the rest of her life. Although many would find their lives totally upended, she made a conscious choice that this would not stand in her way.

One of the first things she did was to learn to drive a specially equipped car and became a “taxi” to her high school and college friends, going to the beach and around town.

After graduating from Crescenta Valley High School in 1974, she attended Glendale Community College. Sue graduated in 1977 where she received her diploma and also met the love of her life and soon-to-be husband Doug. Sue attended California State University, Northridge, graduating with a degree in history; while at CSUN Sue happened to take a meteorology course, which launched a lifetime passion for weather.

As a teacher for the Glendale School District, Sue mentored many disabled students. And, just for fun, with arms as strong as a walking person’s legs, she occasionally arm-wrestled the high school kids in her class to prove she could still beat them.

Sue always felt that starting a family was the crowning achievement of her life. She and Doug went on to have two wonderful boys, Chris and Greg. Sue was active as a room mother, PTA officer (where she earned a California Honorary Service Award), den leader, and cub master in her son Greg’s troop. Sue was an active and founding supporter of son Chris’ Clark Magnet High School robotics team, and traveled with the team to competitions near and far.

When Chris and Greg graduated from high school, Sue had time to become active in the Crescenta Valley Historical Society, Prom Plus and Friends of Rockhaven; she became a lead docent at the Autry Museum and began writing the Crescenta Valley Weekly newspaper weather column – all of which she continued until her passing. Sue’s weekly “Weather in the Foothills” column combined her loves of weather and history with homespun anecdotes about day-to-day life in the Foothills and of her travels with husband Doug and dog Brighton.

Doug and Sue married on a crisp October day in 1980 and for 44 years they were an unshakable team. Doug would often say that he was the brawn while Sue was the brain. Together they were able to hike/wheel on the John Muir Trail, sail their Zodiac boat on Sierra lakes, visit ghost towns and explore countless beaches and national parks.

Despite overwhelming physical challenges, Sue approached life with optimism, perseverance, self-sufficiency and dignity. She was a pillar of strength to all she knew and an icon in the community. Sue will be dearly missed by her friends and family.

Please visit www.suekilpatrick.com.

In lieu of flowers, Sue has asked that donations be made to Crescenta Valley Prom Plus (www.promplus.org), an organization dedicated to providing a safe and really fun after-prom experience for graduating high school seniors.