Susan Jane Voelkel

Susan was born March 19, 1933 in Terre Haute, Indiana. In 1944, her family moved to Bloomington and she attended University School, Class of 1951, and Indiana University, where she majored in Journalism. Upon graduation from IU in 1955, Susan moved to New York City where she took a job with Time Magazine, Inc. as a researcher and began her Master’s Degree in Political Science at Columbia University. In a class at Columbia, she met and later married Forbes Brock Hays of Moss Point, Mississippi. In1960, they moved to Northfield, Minnesota, where Susan worked part time for the local newspaper. After Forbes’ untimely death in 1967, Susan returned to Bloomington with her two young children and spent most of her career as a writer, Managing Editor, and Editor of the Indiana University News Bureau. She married Ralph Voelkel in 1987 and they remained married until his death in early 2015.

Susan was dedicated to helping others and instilled these values in her family. Even while working full time and raising her two children as a single mom, she was an active member of St. Mark’s United Methodist Church, United Methodist Women, Tri Kappa, and 19th Century Club. She was also involved in the IU Alumni Club, the Ernie Pyle Society, and the Pi Beta Phi Alumni Club.

Hobbies included writing short stories, gardening, sewing, crafting and reading. Susan was an avid traveler and had an abiding interest in American history. She traveled to several continents, always studying the history and culture of each destination. She relished sharing stories about her life and travels with her grandchildren.

Susan is survived by her brother, Harry Wallace (Ruth) of Mequon, Wisconsin; sister, Leona Mullery (Michael) of San Mateo, California; daughter Martha Moore (David) of Bloomington, Indiana; son, F. Wallace Hays (Maria DiGiulian) of Arlington, Virginia; grandchildren Andrew Moore (LeAnna), Emily Pierson (William), Clara Moore, Sophia Hays and Martha Hays; sister in law, Jonnie Hays; stepchildren David (Carroll), Jane, and Mark Voelkel and their extended families; nieces and nephews Mary Ann Frantz (David), Mark Mullery (Lesley), Zoe Mullery, Jennifer Martin (Peter) and their extended families; and cousins Nancy Echols and Sally Crum.

Susan is preceded in death by her mother, Anna Ruth Haworth Wallace (Janie), her father Leon H. Wallace; and her husbands Forbes Brock Hays and Ralph H. Voelkel.

Susan’s family would like to extend special thanks to the staff at Bell Trace and Bell Trace Health and Living Center, and to her private caregivers — all of whom cared for Susan during her most difficult days with expertise and commitment, and most importantly, abundant compassion.

A public Celebration of Life Service will be held on Saturday, February 1 at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church Sanctuary, 100 St. Rd. 46, at 3 o’clock pm, followed by a Reception at the church. Condolences and memories may be left at www.DayDeremiahFrye.com.