Susan Lynn Floyd

She was a trailblazer at work, spending most of her career in the space industry with various contractors (McDonnell-Douglas, Rockwell, Lockheed, Boeing), working with the Apollo, Shuttle, and Space Station programs. She drove the implementation of data management and launch control systems for the Shuttle program. She later started her own company, Centra 2000, focused on configuration management, and then returned to the space program where she helped coordinate recovery efforts in Texas after the Columbia accident. As a manager, she was smart, tough, tenacious, demanding, and got things done.

She loved mentoring and coaching and was deeply committed to inspiring the next generation. She volunteered with the Lego League, introducing young people to robotics and engineering, and was a driving force behind the Society for Women Engineers, especially the Introduce a Girl to Engineering Workshops. She coached Lassie League girls softball and was a leader with the girl scouts.

Susan's first love and deepest joy was her family-and she had a very expansive idea of family. She was constantly gathering people together, perhaps never happier than when she was in the center of some joyful, noise-filled celebration, with food and decorations as far as the eye can see. She was a devoted wife, a fiercely-loving mother, and the coolest grandma and great-grandma around.

She was giving, almost to a fault, always making sure the party continued for others. She was relentlessly generous, and she inspired the people around her. When she believed in you, you could do anything. She had grace and grit and an indomitable spirit. She changed lives.

Susan is survived by her devoted husband, Charlie; her children, Kim (Herb), Chuck, Holly (Eduardo), and Richard (Emily); a dozen grandchildren and a plethora of great grandchildren; her brother Mark, close nephew Michael Rod; and the countless people, related or otherwise, that she adopted over the years. She was preceded in death by her parents, Marvin and Sandy Heckendorf, and her sister, Robin.

A visitation for Susan will be held Saturday, March 29, 2025 at 2:00 PM at Wylie-Baxley Funeral Home, 1360 N Courtenay Pkwy, Merritt Island, FL 32953, followed by a funeral service at 3:00 PM