Obituary
Susan Greenbacker Oller

Susan Greenbacker Oller passed away peacefully from complications of dementia on December 21st in Raleigh, North Carolina. Born on October 7, 1943, in Miami, Florida, Susan was the daughter of the late Carolyn Perrow Greenbacker and Captain John E. Greenbacker. Her father was stationed in Miami while serving on convoy escort duty in the North Atlantic. In 1947, the family moved to Washington, D.C., where they settled in a home on Van Ness Street. It remained Susan’s childhood home and the residence of her parents until their retirement. Susan attended Woodrow Wilson High School, graduating with the class of 1961. She went on to enroll at Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri—a women’s college also attended by her mother and aunts. A devoted alumna, Susan often spoke of how the environment of single-sex education allowed her to flourish. Because Stephens was a junior college at the time, she transferred to Radford College in Virginia, where she graduated in 1965. Susan began her teaching career in Norfolk, Virginia, first at Granby High School and soon after at Maury High School, where she spent many years as part of the storied Maury English Department. She was instrumental in teaching the “Maury Method” of writing, preparing students of all abilities to master the fundamentals of essay composition and to enter college with confidence. While volunteering for Henry Howell’s 1969 gubernatorial campaign, Susan met Robert Brown, a local attorney and the campaign manager. They married and welcomed a daughter, Emily, in 1972. They later divorced in 1976 however remained life-long friends bonded by the love for their daughter and their common interests in local politics and the Arts. In 1985 Susan reunited with her childhood friend, Dr. Dale Oller. Their families had known each other for decades; their fathers served together in the Navy, and their mothers, both Navy wives raising four children, were close friends. Dale and Susan—each the eldest of their siblings—first met at age six at Norfolk Naval Base Elementary School. They dated on and off through high school, college,medical school and early adulthood whenever they found themselves in the same city. In their forties, the timing was finally right. They married in Williamsburg, Virginia, on June 27, 1987, after which Dale retired from the Navy Medical Corps at Bethesda Naval Hospital and moved to Raleigh to establish the area’s first trauma center at Wake Medical Center. Susan chose not to continue teaching in North Carolina and became an enthusiastic volunteer and community supporter. She contributed her time and talents to Artspace, the United Arts Council, the Wake County Teachers Association, NCAE, Meredith College, the North Carolina Opera Board, Loaves and Fishes Ministry, and White Memorial Presbyterian Church, where she served as a deacon. Susan once suggested the church needed an updated directory and she was immediately placed in charge of that project, learning the lesson that suggestions lead to responsibilities! Her deepest commitment, however, was to the North Carolina Democratic Party. She was Executive Director of the Wake County Democratic Party and led the Teen Democrats for over a decade, some of whom later achieved elected office which delighted her. She frequently opened her home to host fundraisers for Democratic candidates. She was particularly passionate about supporting women running for elected office. Susan will be remembered as an elegant Southern lady who cherished handwritten thank-you notes on personal stationery, beautifully set tables with china, silver, and linens, gracious entertaining, and impeccable manners. A devoted admirer of Jane Austen and Victorian novels, Susan had a signature love of beautiful hats and a deep fondness for traveling to England, especially her voyage on the Queen Mary 2 with her daughter and sister. Susan also remained passionate about teaching, continuing to follow developments in writing instruction long after she left the classroom. Susan loved opera, Elvis, and country music, especially Emmy Lou Harris. She loved animals, particularly dogs and horses, and always had a dog at her side. She was a loyal daughter, sister, wife, and mother who was always present for her family, willing to drop everything to come to them when they needed help. Susan is survived by her devoted husband, Dale; her beloved daughter, Emily Phillips and “favorite” son-in-law, Seth Phillips of Brooklyn, New York; her grandchildren, Claire, Jackson, and Owen; and three siblings, John Greenbacker, Jr., Florence Arnold (James), and Christopher Greenbacker (Lauretta). She is also survived by her stepchildren, Jeffrey Oller and Denise Oller and Denise’s daughter, Samantha. Special thanks from all the family go to loyal caregivers and close friends, Susana and Estefani Zavala and Sandra Artiga. A memorial service will be held at White Memorial Presbyterian Church at a time yet to be determined. Ladies are encouraged to wear hats in Susan’s style. Donations in her honor may be made to the Loaves and Fishes Ministry or the SPCA of Wake County.