Patricia Ann Wilbur

Patricia Ann (Gordon) Wilbur, 77, died on Sunday, April 26, 2026, at Norwalk Memorial Home. She was born in Dennison, Ohio to Harry and Zella (Brightwell) Gordon on May 5, 1948. Her family moved around much of her childhood, settling in Oberlin and she graduated from Oberlin High School. She worked for Oberlin College, Lake Terminal Railroad for 30 years, and retired from Norwalk Furniture.

Pat met the love of her life, Earl, in 1975, and they shared a wonderful life for 41 years, exploring the US, Canada and Europe, gifting her a love of travel and adventure. They brought out the best in each other and shared a deep and unconditional love that was one for the ages. They settled in their dream house in the woods in Norwalk in 2000, that she designed and he built, where they hosted many legendary bonfires that were multiple stories high, the annual Christmas Eve family gatherings full of laughter, bows, and good food, and weekly sleepovers for her grandchildren.

 Pat loved to keep busy and get the most out of the each moment. From reading books that she could pass along to others, to swapping music genres with her son which she admittedly got more out of than he did, to writing and singing her own music. She had a beautiful singing voice that her husband once confused for the radio and while it was mostly used for lullabies to her grandchildren or solo concerts in the car, it was a prized jewel she shared with those close to her. 

She was a social butterfly and thrived being around her people, whether it was ruthless game nights with her family, baking with her grandchildren or sharing a laugh over some ice cream with her quick wit and charm. She spent much of her free-time volunteering with non-profits, political causes important to her and canvassing for the Democratic Party. She lived by the personal oath to make the world a better place than she found it and be a good citizen of this Earth. She was vocal about the women’s rights, equality for all, and helping out her fellow humans however she could. 

She spent her golden years traveling the world with her friends and family, seeing the Australian outback, the mountains peaks of Switzerland, cruising down the Rhine, walking the streets of Paris and stateside adventures too, including San Francisco, Savannah, Las Vegas, the wilderness of Alaska, and everywhere in between as long as she could convince someone to join her. She loved learning about the history and culture of each place she went, always having a new adventure on the horizon. 

She is survived by her sons: Jeffrey (Leslie) Gordon and Gregory Wilbur; grandchildren, Stephanie (David) Zunick and Dylan Gordon, Courtney Burgin, Coleton and Cullen Wilbur, Taylor and Colin Horton; and great-grandchildren, Paige and Arya Burgin, Eli and Styles Wilbur, and Madeleine Zunick; sisters, Barbara (Dave) Parmer of Panama City, FL, and Linda (Steve) Carroll of Somerset, KY. She was preceded in death by her husband, Earl, and her parents.

A memorial gathering for family and friends will be held on Thursday, April 30, 2026, at Walker-Eastman-Heydinger Funeral Home, 98 W. Main St., Norwalk, Ohio, from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m. Online expressions of sympathy to the family may be made by visiting: www.walkereastmanheydingerfh.com