Judy was preceded in death by her parents, Earl and Mildred Hamlin, and her husband, Joseph. She is survived by her son, Mark Westerheide, and his wife, Donna, of Mansfield Texas and her daughters, Linda Loxley, and Lisa Westerheide of Beavercreek, Ohio. She lives on in her family, including her three grandchildren Katherine Westerheide, Erin and Matthew Loxley, her brothers Thomas, Joel, and David Hamlin, her sisters-in-law Ardis Trigg, Shirley and Janice Hamlin, her sisters Carol Brodbeck and Janet Watson, and her brothers-in-law Thomas Brodbeck and David Watson, along with numerous nephews and nieces.
Born in Dayton, Ohio on November 4th, 1939 to Earl and Mildred Hamlin, Judy graduated from St. Joe’s in Dayton, Ohio and married her husband of forty-seven years, Joseph L. Westerheide. She attended Sinclair Community College and Wright State University, becoming very active in the Miami Valley aerospace defense industry. She most recently worked for Defense Research Associates (DRA) as a security officer/office manager. She also worked for Litton Aerospace Corporation, Systems Research Laboratories, and Enterprise Engineering during her career.
She was very active in the National Aerospace and Electronics Conference (NAECON) and especially the Association of Old Crows (AOC), a professional organization that furthers the aims and purposes of Electronic Warfare. She was a member of the Kittyhawk Chapter of the AOC for 35 years. Her passion for her work lives on in the Chapter’s “Judy Westerheide Kittyhawk AOC Service Award,” dedicated to her honor. She served on the National AOC Board of Directors for 6 years and for 2 years as the National Secretary on the Executive Committee. Judy received the AOC’s National Lifetime Achievement Award (the pinnacle of the Associations awards), and a special National AOC Board of Director’s award in 2012. Additionally, she owned and managed rental properties serving on the boards of several homeowners associations.
Judy’s vibrant sense of adventure and feisty personality didn’t stop at her professional life. She was an instrument rated airplane pilot (IFR) who flew her own plane, a Cessna 172-N9292H, for over 25 years. She was an active member of the Ninety Nines Association of Women Pilots-All Ohio Chapter and a member of the Aircraft Owners and Pilot Association. Now she is flying again with her husband Joe in the “unrestricted confines” of heaven.
A good friend and avid entertainer, Judy enjoyed throwing parties, playing cards, and cooking for her loved ones. She always looked her best and enjoyed spending time at her condo in Ft. Walton Beach, Florida. She was a parishioner at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church. Her family and friends will miss her dearly, while always remembering her fondly. It was an indescribable privilege to have her in their lives. The family wishes to thank the doctors and caring nurses of Hospice of Dayton.
Friends and family will be welcome at the Tobias Funeral Home, 3970 Dayton Xenia Road, Beavercreek on Monday, May 20 from 4:00 to 8:00 pm. There will also be a viewing at the H.J. Hogenkamp Sons Funeral Home, 61 South Hanover Street, Minster, Ohio 45865 on Tuesday, May 21 from 9:00 to 10:30 am followed by a mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 am at St. Augustine Catholic Church, 48 North Hanover Street, Minister, Ohio 45865, Father Tom Schmidt celebrant. Interment St. Augustine Cemetery. Condolences to the family can be made at www.tobiasfuneralhome.com.
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