Susan Lee Pentlin, 1947–2013, of Warrensburg, Mo., died Christmas day at home.

She earned her doctorate from the University of Kansas and was professor of modern languages at Central Missouri State University from 1970–2005. She was a Fulbright Exchange Teacher in Freising, West Germany, from 1973–1974 and received a Fulbright Summer Seminar in 1977, and a Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence Grant in 1986–1987.

Susan was appointed commissioner for the Fourth District of the Missouri Commission of Human Rights, 1996–2012, and was the longest serving member of this commission.

Her abiding research interest was the Jewish Holocaust, an area in which she worked on for more than 40 years. She presented papers nationally and internationally — twice at Oxford as well as in Berlin, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and Prague. She was a prolific scholar of articles and reviews in numerous journals as well as having edited a book and was working on a biography at the time of her death. She was particularly interested in the story of Holocaust survivor Bronia Roslawowski and wrote extensively about Holocaust denial.

Her long association with the Missouri Folklore Society and having served as contributor an editor of the newsletter of the Johnson County Historical Society from 2002–2008 reflected her passion for Missouri folklore. She loved animals and was devoted to beasts of all kinds.

Susan is survived by her husband of 42 years, Floyd C. Pentlin. Also surviving are her in-laws Judith Pentlin, George and Joan Pentlin; nieces Michelle Pentlin and her son, Brandon; Theresa Alexander and her husband, Jeremy, and their two children, Logan and Landon; and Melissa Schmidt and her husband, James.

Also surviving are her sister, Linda Pietila of Carrolton, Texas; and her two daughters, Lara and Jennifer and her brother, Mark Riddle.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Jean and Arnold Riddle; her sister, Cheryl Leffler; and her grandmother, Addie Gillum Flanery.

Memorial contributions are suggested to the Midwest Center for Holocaust Education, Overland Park, Kan., or the American Humane Society.