Carolyn Huseman Obituary

Carolyn Sue Huseman

March 12, 1946 – October 19, 2025

Carolyn “Sue” Huseman was born March 12, 1946, in Carnegie, Caddo County, Oklahoma, to John Oliver and Mary Brooks Holcomb, and passed away peacefully on Sunday, October 19, 2025, in Santa Barbara, surrounded by her daughter and close friends.

Sue was raised on the family farm in Boone, near Apache, Oklahoma, where her schooling began in a country schoolhouse. She often recalled being the only “white girl” in a classroom of Apache and Comanche classmates and liked to say their town was “the buckle of the Bible Belt.” Life revolved around the local Baptist church—potlucks, sewing circles, weddings, funerals, and even a Billy Graham crusade. A talented accordion player, she once competed in a Myron Floren contest and proudly joked that finishing second cost her a Lawrence Welk debut.

Through 4-H, she learned to sew, beginning a lifetime of creativity that produced clothing, quilts, and gifts made with love. After high school, she earned a Braniff Airlines scholarship to attend Oklahoma State University in Tulsa, joined a sorority, and made lifelong friends.

Sue’s career took her to Washington, D.C., where she held a high-level security clearance as a key-punch operator for the Department of Defense. She was proud of her role in service to the nation at a pivotal time in history.

A visit to family in Lompoc, California, changed her life. Enchanted by the Central Coast, she decided to stay, taking a position at Vandenberg Air Force Base while living with her cousin. In Lompoc, she met and married Henry J. Mendez, and together they welcomed their daughter, Nanette. Though the marriage later ended, Sue balanced work, motherhood, and college, ultimately earning her Bachelor’s degree from Chapman College.

Her professional life was varied and distinguished. She served as office manager for Dr. Heiges and later joined the Lompoc Unified School District as an ROP teacher at Lompoc High School, teaching students retail sales and workplace skills. She strengthened community ties through Lester’s Interiors on North E Street, where her sewing talents created beautiful home décor, and through Al Walker, CPA, working on books with precision and integrity.

In time, Sue met and married Judge Eugene Huseman, beginning a lifelong love story marked by hospitality, travel, and community service. Together they hosted joyful gatherings, journeyed widely with friends, and championed local causes. Encouraged by Alice Milligan, Sue joined the Lompoc District Hospital Foundation Board and served for 12 years as Vice President. She was also an honored member of P.E.O., where she chaired Ways and Means and raised scholarship funds for women’s education. Her energy extended to Women in Chamber, where she helped found the popular Chocoholics Festival benefiting student scholarships.

The discovery of Mayflower ancestry inspired Sue’s devotion to genealogy and patriotism. She joined the Rancho Purisima Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR), becoming Regent during a period of revival for the Chapter. Her leadership and fundraising revitalized the organization and earned her the honorary title of Regent Emeritus. She also belonged to the Laura Belle Stoddard Tent No. 22, Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War, 1861–1865 (DUV), based in Santa Barbara.

After Judge Huseman’s passing, Sue, her daughter Nanette, and Chapter members attended the DAR Continental Congress in Washington, D.C., where she was recognized for her success in revitalizing her Chapter and for her service on national committees. She made that meaningful trip three times. In 2023, she and two DUV Sisters drove to Oklahoma City for the National Convention, where she proudly revisited her hometown and introduced friends to her roots.

Soon after, Sue was diagnosed with cancer. Under the devoted care of Dr. Gupta and his team, she was granted two extra years—time she filled with cheerfulness, faith, and generosity. She continued supporting local students both personally and through scholarships, always thinking of others.

Sue was preceded in death by her parents, her brother, Richard, and her husband, Judge Eugene Huseman. She is survived by her beloved daughter, Nanette, and many dear friends, colleagues, and former students who will remember her kindness, humor, and unwavering generosity.

Services: Burial arrangements are entrusted to Starbuck-Lind. A graveside ceremony will be held at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, October 29, 2025, at Lompoc Evergreen Cemetery.

Memorial Contributions: In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Sue Huseman Memorial Scholarship Fund, established by the Rancho Purisima Chapter, NSDAR.
Make checks payable to RPDAR and note “Huseman Scholarship.”
Mail to:
Christine Williams, Chapter Treasurer
2205 Hermosa Ave.
Lompoc, CA 93436