Patricia Kendrick Judd

Patricia Kendrick Judd, 59, passed away on Tuesday, June 6, 2006 at Abilene Regional Medical Center, from complications related to a January heart operation in Houston. After a four and a half month battle that she approached daily with courage and grace, she was surrounded by family and friends. Patty joins son John Howard Judd, III, who died in infancy in September 1976. She is survived by her husband, Dr. John H. Judd, Jr., an orthopedic surgeon in Abilene; daughter Patricia Lee Judd, an international copyright attorney in Washington, DC; son Dr. John Patrick Judd, a resident in obstetrics and gynecology in New Orleans, LA; her parents, Rev. James B. and Ida Mary Kendrick of Manchester, TN; sister Rebecca K. Lybarger of New Bremen, OH; brother James B. Kendrick, Jr., of Mt. Juliet, TN; niece Andrea L. Prestridge of Decatur, AL and other nieces and nephews. Born on May 28, 1947 in Philadelphia, PA to James B. and Ida Mary Kendrick, Patty grew up in various locations throughout the eastern United States, as her family moved to accommodate her father's U.S. Navy assignments and ministry in the United Methodist Church. She graduated from Greenview High School in Jamestown, OH in 1965, and-inspired by her mother's career as a Registered Nurse- made her way to New York, NY to pursue her own nursing career at the Mount Sinai School of Nursing. After completing her training amid accolades in 1968, Patty moved to Nashville, TN, where she worked as a coronary care nurse at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center and met her husband John H. Judd, Jr. (Jack), who was about to start medical school at Vanderbilt. They married in 1970. After the arrival of daughter Patricia Lee and son John Patrick and the completion of Jack's medical training at the Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, the family moved to Abilene in 1981. In addition to her full time roles as wife and mother, Patty worked and volunteered at various times at Hendrick Medical Center. Her hobbies also enriched her life and the lives of those around her. Incredibly talented with her hands, Patty honored friends and family with a multitude of magnificent cross-stitched and knitted pieces. She was also a gifted singer and guitarist, and even made a professional recording. During her time in Abilene, she volunteered for the American Heart Association and was a member of the Abilene Woman's Club and St. Paul United Methodist Church. A woman of strong faith, Patty demonstrated completely the attributes she most admired. One of her favorite Bible verses was Philippians 4:8: "Finally...whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things." True. Noble. Right. Pure. Lovely. Admirable. Excellent. Praiseworthy. Earth will never know a better embodiment of these words than Patty. When those who knew her think about these things, they think of her. How blessed are those who had the privilege of sharing her life. The family will receive friends at the Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Rd. in Abilene, on Thursday, June 8, 2006, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Services will follow at 2:00 on Friday, June 9, 2006, at St. Paul United Methodist Church, 525 Beech in Abilene, with the Rev. Steve Chappell and the Rev. Greg Kennedy officiating. Pallbearers will include Mr. James Kendrick, Jr., Mr. Wayne Lybarger, Dr. Ernie Anderson, Mr. Tom Hawkins, Dr. Daniel Vaughan, Mr. Gary Casey and Dr. James Marshall. Honorary pallbearers include Mrs. Margarete Sullivan, Mrs. Betty Ridlehoover, Mrs. Patsy Strader, Mrs. Katie Shepard, Mrs. Kirsten Bush, Mrs. Dolores Flatt, Mrs. Dorothy Kemp, Mrs. Maryanne Anderson, Ms. Prudy Tyler, Mrs. Luella Roach and Mrs. Liz Herrera. Memorials may be made to Compassion International, a Christian charity for children in poverty worldwide. Contact them at P.O. Box 65000, Colorado Springs, CO 80965, (800) 336-7676, or www.compassion.com.