COLUMBUS
Judy passed away on November 18, 2023. She’s survived by her daughter, Jody; son, Andrew; brother, Jim; sister-in-law, Sue; nephews, Tim and Jim; sister, Jan; niece, Katie, and nephew Jimmy. She was preceded in death by her husband, Bill; son, Tom; nephew, Brian; and brother-in-law, Bill Penz.
The daughter of Dr. Harris L. Woodburne and Grace Clark Woodburne, Judy was a native Michigander, born in Detroit and raised in Essexville. After graduating from Albion College, where she met Bill in Zoology class, Judy worked as a schoolteacher before settling into life as a homemaker while raising Jody, Tom, and Andy.
Later in life, Judy became an avid tennis player and worked at Tipton Lakes Racquet Club. She also enjoyed playing bridge, reading Sue Grafton detective novels, sipping on chardonnay and caramel frappes, looking at hummingbirds flying around the feeder outside her window, and floating on a pontoon boat with the notoriously rowdy group of ex-volleyball players and lake revelers known as The Mountain Pigs.
Lovably snarky and frequently feisty, Judy had a sharp wit and redhead’s temperament. That likely helped her endure a lot in her life: dementia, TIAs, skin cancer. a broken hip, pneumonia, covid, and earlier in life, the loss of her beloved middle child, Tom, then two years ago, the loss of her husband, Bill.
Through it all, Judy was a model of resilience. Bill used to say she was “tougher than a boiled owl.” And she really was. But more than anything, she was caring, kind, and loving. That’s how we’ll remember her most.
In keeping with the family’s request, cremation will take place and a private memorial service will be held in the spring of 2024. Inurnment will be at Garland Brook Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Our Hospice of South Central Indiana or the Cure Alzheimer’s Fund (34 Washington Street, Suite 310, Wellesley Hills, MA. 02481)
Arrangements entrusted to Barkes, Weaver &Glick Funeral Home.
Online condolences and special memories may be shared with the Pearce family at barkesweaverglick.com.
