Barbara Anne Judd

Barbara Anne (Wessinger) Judd passed away on November 4th, 2016, after an extensive illness. Barbara was born May 6th, 1932, to F. Glen and Margaret Charlotte (Roberts) Wessinger in Howell Township, Michigan, near where her paternal great-grandparents settled when they arrived from Bavaria in 1858. Growing up on the family farm shaped the rest of Barbara’s life, including her work ethic and love of gardening and country cooking.

Barbara’s life commitment to education began in the one-room country school which her grandparents, father and aunts had attended. After finishing eighth grade, Barbara transferred to Howell High School where she graduated valedictorian of her class in June, 1950. After working for a year at a local insurance company, she enrolled at Michigan State University, where she majored in History and English, earning her B.A. degree with “highest honors” in 1955. In her history classes, Barbara met Bernard H. Judd from Handy Township, Michigan. They were married June 22, 1957, the year Barbara began her teaching career at Hazelet High School. She and Bernard received Master’s Degrees in 1959 and moved to Madison, WI, where Bernard studied for a Ph.D., and Barbara taught English and World Cultures at West High School and attended the University of Wisconsin during the summers. In 1964, they moved to Pittsburgh, PA, where Bernard taught at Carnegie Mellon University and Barbara taught American History at Taylor Alderdice High School. She also completed work for a doctorate in History at Carnegie Mellon.

When the Judds moved to Kansas City, MO, in 1971, they had found the place where they wanted to spend the rest of their lives. Barbara taught History and English classes at Loretto Academy in Kansas City for five years before joining the Humanities faculty at Sunset High School; with the creation of The Pembroke Hill School in 1984, Barbara continued to teach History and Government and served as a college counselor until her final class in 2007, rounding out a half-century of teaching. Barbara loved teaching, respected her students and challenged them to do high-quality work. Her best friends have always been her teaching colleagues.

Barbara is survived by her two children, Stephen O. Judd of Overland Park, KS, and Sarah A. Lavy of Kansas City, MO; two grandsons, Nathan R. Judd and Noah J. Lavy of Kansas City; a brother, Francis and wife, Marian, who live on and operate the family farm in MI; two brothers-in-law, William and wife, Jo Ann Judd, and Dennis and wife, Aileen, of Handy Township, MI; two sisters-in-law, Helen Gonzalez of Cerritos, CA, and Diane Wiljer of Bellflower, CA; several cousins and numerous nieces and nephews. All who knew Barbara will miss her.

Visitation will be held at Mount Moriah, Newcomer and Freeman Funeral Home, 10507 Holmes Road, Kansas City, MO, on November 12th at 12:00pm, 2016. A celebration of her life will be held at the same place 1:00pm. Contributions may be made in Barbara Judd’s memory to The Pembroke Hill School, 400 West 51st, Kansas City, MO, 64112.

Arrangements under the direction of Mt Moriah, Newcomer & Freeman Funeral Home, Kansas City, MO.