Susan A. Vonder Hoya

Susan “SuSu” Anne Vonder Hoya passed away peacefully Friday, March 24, 2023, at the age of 72 in Waco, with her daughter, Suzanne Vonder Hoya Shelton, and son-in-law, Glendon Dain Shelton, by her side. Susan was a dedicated and loving mother, grandmother, and friend to many. Susan was tiny but mighty and all that knew her loved her deeply.

A funeral service will be held at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, April 1, at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, with The Rev. Brandon McGinnis officiating. Visitation will be from 5 – 7 p.m. Friday, March 31, at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home.

Susan was born June 15, 1950, in Houston, to Gladys Coaina Steger Root and James Edwin Root III. She attended Holy Ghost from kindergarten through eighth grade and then Robert E. Lee High School, from which she graduated in 1968. After high school, she attended the University of Texas at Austin. She graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting in 1972. She was a master of all things math and later obtained her CPA license.

After college, she married Christopher William Vonder Hoya and soon moved to Waco. Waco became her forever home and is where she raised her daughter, Suzanne. Susan and Suzanne were as close as can be and loved living near each other. Susan worked for Texas State Technical College Systems in the financial department for 35 years. She eventually held the title of Chief Financial Officer to finish out her career.

Susan absolutely adored her twin grandchildren, Clara Anne Shelton and Nolan Vonder Hoya Shelton. She loved going to all their school events, sports games, and traveling to new places with them by her side. When she wasn’t traveling with her family, she was traveling the world with her friends. She has been all over five of the continents and to almost all fifty states. She also loved to watch Texas Longhorn Football and Baylor Women’s Basketball. She would spend her days gardening, playing bridge, enjoying her book club, or just visiting with her friends. She was a longtime member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and participated in the altar guild. She loved the theater and would catch a play whenever she had the chance. Susan was also a dedicated member of the Historic Waco Foundation. She truly loved her community.

Susan was preceded in death by her father, James Edwin Root III; her mother, Gladys Coaina Steger Root; and her sisters, Karen Louise Root and Mary Karen Pruett.

She is survived by her daughter, Suzanne Shelton and husband, Dain; Suzanne and Dain’s children, Clara and Nolan; brother, Jim Root and wife, Ann; nephew, Joshua Root and wife, Brittany; Joshua and Brittany’s children, Claire and Harrison; and nephew, Eric Root and wife, Jill.

Honorary pallbearers are her dearest friends Karen Conine, BG Coulter, Pati Milligan, Sue Ann Swenke, and Rosemary Townsend.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Susan’s memory to St. Paul’s Episcopal School, 517 Columbus Avenue, Waco, Texas 76701.

The family invites you to leave a message or memory on our “Tribute Wall” at www.WHBfamily.com.