Susan Marie (Wilson) Willbanks, lovingly referred to as "Banx" by generations of students, died at her home on Friday, June 20, 2025, nearly 28 years after her first cancer diagnosis and after a lifetime as a Good and Faithful Servant. She walked into the sunshine with her soulmate Bobby, daughter Kaitlin, and mother Cec at her side after an outpouring of kindness and support for several months from friends and family.

Susan was born to Jack Lyle Wilson and Cecile Marie (Morgan) Wilson on Friday, May 26, 1961. Ever generous, she shared her birthday with her older sister, Lori, and her middle name with both her mother Cec and her daughter Kaitlin. She lived in Nashville, Tennessee, for a time and enjoyed many beautiful days at the Opry, but she mostly spent her early years in Muncie, Indiana. She received degrees from Muncie Southside High School in 1979 and Ball State University in 1984. In Muncie, she met her best friends, including her husband (whom her family welcomed in as if they were their own children) studied English, perfected scary-fast cashiering at the Rivoli Theatre, helped her friends pass their classes, and nurtured her lifelong love of music and theatre through band, swing choir, and many theatrical productions.

Lured by the siren call of the lakes, she took a position teaching 12th grade English at Twin Lakes High School. In Monticello, she found 'her people" and her home. She was a phenomenal writer who believed that if you could write, you could do anything. She passed on that gift to many students in just a few years in the classroom before she found a new calling in counseling. After receiving her master's degree from Purdue University in 1990, she spent the next three decades walking alongside thousands of students through their best and worst days and helping them to find their way.

Susan played an integral role in the Theatre program a Twin Lakes as Director in 82 productions. Together with the incomparable Mark Weaver and her constant companion and partner, Bobby, she built an enduring arts legacy, in honor of which the theatre was recently renamed the Weaver & Willbanks Family Theatre. In the Twin Lakes Theatre, each of her affectionately-termed Best Kids in the World found their place and their voice. She focused on connection and inclusion as much as performance, building a remarkably diverse community and shaping incredibly compassionate and courageous young adults.

She was an exceptional mother and was immensely proud of her Kaitlin Doodlebug. She was also a crucial mother figure for so many other young people, including her students, her "CASA" kids, and Kaitlin's friends. She was a phenomenal spouse to Bobby for their forty wonderful years of marriage, and she was committed to honoring the rare and beautiful gift of their loving partnership. Most importantly, she was an extraordinary human being – full of compassion, intelligence, resilience, quick wit, and a deep and abiding love for all people.

In her spare time, she was a committed member of the Monticello United Methodist Church, dedicated band and choir mom, Missions Committee member, CASA ("Court Appointed Special Advocate"), alto in the church choir, community band flautist, Summertime Players performer, Vacation Bible School teacher, and daredevil boat driver. She loved her God, her family, her pets, the water, the performing arts, Dr. Pepper, whimsy, travel, literature, elephants and hummingbirds, baking shows, museums, and the West Wing.

If she were writing this, she would remind you now: Marry your best friend. Use the gifts of your talents and your troubles and go and be a blessing to the world. Fight for justice. You are not alone.  She will rejoice to see us all again, as she firmly believed that nothing can separate us from God's love—not even death. Until then, the show is yours.

Survivors include her beloved best friend and husband of 40 years, Robert ("Bobby") Conley Willbanks Jr., and their daughter, Kaitlin Marie (Daniel) Willbanks; pups Elphaba and Marley, KittenKat Amaryllis, mother Cecile Marie Wilson; siblings Kevin (Sharon) Wilson, Lori (Hank) Riley, and Mary Margaret Willbanks, nieces and nephews April Grill, Jon Wilson, Josh Thompson, Kyle Quirk, Henry Riley, Drew Quirk, and Emily Yeager, grand-nieces and nephews, bonus daughters Karson Gritten and Kady Falls; and countless friends and students.

She has been welcomed to the Lord's side by her father, Jack Wilson, mother- and father-in-law, Ruth and Rev. R.C. Willbanks, and by many other loved ones and dear pets.

A gathering of family, friends, former students, and community member may call from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Friday, June 27, 2025, and 2:00 p.m. until the time of service at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 28, 2025, in the Monticello United Methodist Church Connection Court. (200 S. Main St., Monticello, IN 47960). entrance "B".

A celebration of life service for family and friends will be conducted at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 28, 2025, at the Monticello United Methodist Church, 200 S. Main St., Monticello, Indiana, with Rev. Brian Beeks and Rev. Justin Cason both of the Monticello United Methodist Church, officiating. A live stream of the service will be available on the church's link: https://www.youtube.com/c/MonticelloUMC

Memorial contributions may be made to the Susan Willbanks Theatre Fund for "The Best Kids in the World." Checks can be made out to the Community Foundation of White County, with Willbanks (or probably most recognizably) Banx in the memo line. Ensuring the future of the Twin Lakes Theatre Program for generations to come. Envelopes will be available at the church, funeral home, or can be mailed to PO Box 1154, Monticello, IN 47960 C/O Willbanks.

Deibels Funeral Home is honored and blessed to be assisting the family.