Susan Marlowe Middendorf

Susan Marlowe Middendorf, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend, passed away early Monday morning, September 22, 2025, in Oklahoma City at the age of 81.
Susan was born to parents Ralph and Rubye Marlowe on December 13, 1943, in Blountsville, Alabama. A southern belle and self-proclaimed daddy's girl, Susan and her younger brother Wendell graduated high school in Albertville, Alabama. After graduating in 1961, Susan enrolled at Trevecca Nazarene College to study history and education. There she was spotted walking across campus wearing a smart, blue plaid dress by Jesse Middendorf, a theology major and aspiring minister.
After a 3-year courtship, Susan and Jesse married on June 4, 1964. Later they would welcome children Jon, Marlo, and Jim.
After graduating from Trevecca, the young family moved to Kansas City, Missouri to attend Nazarene Theological Seminary. During that time, Jesse traveled the country representing the Nazarene Publishing House while Susan taught in the public school system. After leaving seminary, Jesse and Susan pastored churches in Tennessee, Kentucky, New Mexico, Texas, and Missouri. While being involved in every local church, Susan remained involved in the lives of her family. No one supported her husband and pastor like she did. No one pulled harder for her kids; no one cheered louder than mom.
In 1985 Jesse was called to serve as the district superintendent in Northwest Oklahoma, and during that time, Susan worked in the office of the registrar at Southern Nazarene University and earned the name "Mamadorf." She kept the name and the matching desk plate when Jesse and Susan moved back to Kansas City in 1991 and Susan worked as the registrar at NTS. Mamadorf served all the students she could reach, offering words of encouragement, free advice, and tough love- dependent on what was needed in the moment.
Over the years, Geba, as she was named by Kenedy, the oldest granddaughter, would enjoy the love of 7 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. In her later years, Geba never tired of getting the family together. She fed off the energy and cherished every burst of laughter. She leaves a gaping hole in our family and in each heart. We miss you already, Geba.
Susan was preceded in death by her parents, Ralph and Rubye Marlowe.
She is survived by her husband, Jesse Middendorf of Edmond, OK; brother, Wendell Marlowe and wife Sheila of Mt. Juliet, TN; son, Jon Middendorf and wife Kelly of Edmond, OK; daughter, Marlo Orton and husband Rocky of Olathe, KS; son, Jim Middendorf of OKC, OK; seven grandchildren, Christopher, Kenedy, Shelby, Maggie, Taylor, Drew, and Rubye Mae; two great-grandchildren, Cash and Hunter; and many cherished nieces, nephews and dear friends all over the world who were and are family to us.
The family is so grateful for all the words of love and support from their church family and from family and friends around the world. Like Susan (Mom, Mamadorf, Geba), you continue to be the tangible evidence of God's grace in our lives.
Susan will be memorialized at OKC First Church on Saturday, September 27 at 10am. The service will be livestreamed and you may view it on this obituary page.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation in her memory to ONE: Our Neighborhood Empowered, a literacy program serving the children in neighborhoods around OKC First. Donate via this link- https://givebutter.com/thatonething.