Former Tulsa Mayor Kathy Taylor announced Tuesday that her husband, Bill Lobeck, 85, died peacefully Tuesday morning surrounded by family. Taylor said she was by his side and described him as a devoted husband, father and visionary entrepreneur.
- Fast Facts:
- Who: Bill Lobeck, 85 — husband of Kathy Taylor, former Tulsa mayor.
- When: Passed away Tuesday morning, surrounded by family.
- Career: Influential entrepreneur in the daily car rental industry.
- Philanthropy: Co-founder of the Lobeck Taylor Family Foundation.
- Requests: In lieu of flowers, donations to Alzheimer’s Association Tulsa Chapter, Philbrook Museum of Art or Old Dominion University.
- Personal: Taylor said she will take the rest of the year off to rest and reflect.
The Lede
Kathy Taylor, the city’s former mayor, publicly announced the loss of her husband, Bill Lobeck, saying he passed peacefully Tuesday morning at age 85, surrounded by family. In her statement Taylor called him “a loving and generous husband, father, grandfather, friend and colleague” whose laugh and jokes will be missed.
The Legacy
Bill Lobeck built a reputation as a driven entrepreneur and a committed philanthropist. His top achievements include:
- Industry influence: Lobeck shaped more major brands in the daily car rental industry than many of his contemporaries, credited for entrepreneurial instincts and financial insight that guided national growth.
- Philanthropic leadership: Co-founder of the Lobeck Taylor Family Foundation, he played a central role in funding community development, entrepreneurship, education and arts initiatives across Tulsa.
- Community impact: Decades of giving and mentorship helped strengthen local institutions — from nonprofits to cultural organizations — leaving a durable imprint on Tulsa’s civic life.
Social Proof — Reactions and Tributes
Taylor’s public message set the tone: she praised his steady leadership and asked the community to “hold your loved ones close, deepen your connections and laugh deeply.” Local leaders, nonprofit partners and longtime business colleagues offered condolences and pointed to Lobeck’s outsized influence in both business and philanthropy.
Several organizations named by Taylor — the Alzheimer’s Association’s Tulsa Chapter, the Philbrook Museum of Art and Old Dominion University — were listed for memorial donations in lieu of flowers, a reflection of causes that mattered to the family.
How to Honor His Memory
Those wishing to pay tribute are asked to consider donations in Bill Lobeck’s memory to the Alzheimer’s Association — Tulsa Chapter, the Philbrook Museum of Art or Old Dominion University, his alma mater. Taylor’s request emphasizes charitable action over flowers and underlines the couple’s decades-long commitment to Tulsa’s civic life.
Taylor said she will step back from public activity for the remainder of the year to grieve and reflect. The community is expected to share further remembrances and formal memorial details in the coming days.
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