Marlene Walburn

Marlene Walburn, age 81, of Colony, Kansas, passed away on Wednesday, December 24, 2025, at Coffeyville Regional Medical Center. She passed peacefully, surrounded by her family, following injuries sustained in a vehicle accident on December 23.

Roma Marlene Grosdidier was born on June 3, 1944, in Centerville, Kansas, the third of three children born to Owen and Frances (Brown) Grosdidier. She grew up in the Centerville area and graduated from Welda High School with the Class of 1962. During her high school years, Marlene worked as a waitress at the Rocky Roost in Welda.

Marlene was united in marriage to the love of her life, Steven Walburn, on August 29, 1964. They began their journey together in Topeka, later moving to Florence, Colony, and onto the farm at Kincaid, before ultimately returning to Colony in 1999. Marlene was a devoted wife and a loving mother to their daughters, Julie and Melanie. Her family was the light of her life, and she took great joy in creating a home filled with traditions, warmth, and love.

Marlene's professional life was defined by hard work and the close bonds she formed along the way. After moving to Topeka, she worked as a receptionist at the Shawnee County welfare office. For more than 23 years, she worked at H.L. Miller and Sons in Iola. During those years, she and her niece, Debbie, shared countless rides to work together, a tradition they continued as they both moved on to work at Haldex following the factory's closure in 1999. Marlene later served as a cook for USD 257 in Iola, retiring in 2007.

Beyond her work, Marlene was a woman of many talents and passions. An avid seamstress and quilter, she crafted many quilts and clothes for her children and grandchildren, and she always looked forward to her gatherings with the Friendship Quilter's Group. She possessed a true green thumb and was a gifted cook who loved caring for her family. Marlene and Steve shared a unique bond through their love of travel and geocaching; together, they traveled throughout the United States and found 27,610 caches. A recent highlight was their trip with Julie to West Virginia in May of 2025 for Geo Woodstock. Whether they were taking their camper on many trips, including Melvern Lake and Yellowstone, or enjoying an Alaskan cruise, Marlene loved documenting their adventures through photography and sharing them online with others.

She was a gentle and kind woman who found her greatest happiness in the simple pleasure of being surrounded by those she loved most.

Marlene was preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Marvelle Harris and husband Delbert; her brother, Wesley Grosdidier; and her nephew, Darrel Harris.

She is survived by her husband of sixty-one years, Steven Walburn, of the home; two daughters, Julie Badders and husband Scott, and Melanie Walburn and significant other Chad Kelly; three grandchildren, Taryn Dowdy and husband Ryan, Brynn Badders and fiancé Hunter Tucker, and Carson Badders; her beloved grandkitties and granddogs; and many nieces, nephews, and friends who will miss her dearly.

Services are being planned for a later date in the Spring of 2026. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.feuerbornfuneral.com.