Ruth Ann Judge

Ruth Judge passed away at home after a brief illness. While it was hard to see her go, we feel fortunate to have had her with us for so long. She was an inspiration to hundreds of students, family, and friends over her 90 very productive years on this earth.

Ruth was born in Jerome, Arizona and grew up in Clarkdale, Arizona, near the red rocks of Sedona. Ruth received her teaching degree from Arizona State University (then known as Arizona State College) and was recruited to “teach at the beach” in Oxnard, California in 1953. It was here that she met the love of her life, Jerry Judge, and they married in 1955. She spent the rest of her life in California, most of it in San Diego County.

Ruth is preceded in death by her parents Thomas and Ruth Sherman, her brother George Sherman, and her husband of 52 years, Jerry Judge. She is survived by her daughters, Donna Judge of Chula Vista, Barbara Jensen of Chula Vista, daughter Linda (and son-in-law Tom) Brault of Oceanside, her son Tom Judge of Colorado, her grandchildren Gerilyn Brault, Alayna (and Justin) Stevenson, and Robyn (and Mark) Dern, and great-granddaughters Amy and Hailey Brimer, and Brooke Dern. In addition to her biological family, her home was always open for students whose parents had to move away and her table was always a welcome for friends as well as family. There are many more who were like family to her and to whom she was forever “Mom”.

Ruth Judge spent the first thirteen years of married life moving the family up and down California while Jerry finished out his naval career. She returned to teaching in 1968 after Jerry retired from the navy and they settled in San Diego and finally, Chula Vista. Ruth taught in the San Diego Unified School District at various elementary schools with long tenure at Paradise Hills Elementary, and her final few years with the district spent at San Diego School for Creative and Performing Arts, teaching algebra and photography to middle-school students, enjoying the integration of the arts, and continuing to teach with passion. She retired from the school district in 1997 but missed teaching so much she began substituting at St. Rose of Lima where her daughter Donna was teaching. She ended up teaching a few more full years at St. Rose, continued substituting into her mid-eighties, and continued to serve the school and the parish for many years in a variety of ways. Ruth was also a devoted Crusader Booster for Marian High School where Jerry taught and oversaw the athletic programs. She was the one who made many of the banners celebrating the sports teams and hosted legendary “booster-parties” that solidified the community. Ruth was a devout lifelong Catholic who served her parish as a lector/reader, Eucharistic minister, altar & rosary society member, and more.

Ruth supported Jerry as he got his former navy USS Topeka reunions going in 1990 and she continued participating after his death in 2007. That community was very special to her, and she was glad to have those connections in her life. She also was able to stay connected to her brother’s sons, daughter-in-law and grandchildren and the many “Judge” siblings and Iowa cousins she married into.

Her caring, sharing, and zest for life has a precious place in the hearts of all of us who have loved her. We miss her and are so grateful for having had Ruth as a very special part of our lives. Her Rosary service will be at Funeraria del Angel, 753 Broadway, Chula Vista at 6 p.m. on Friday Oct. 7. Her funeral mass at St Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Chula Vista at 12 p.m. on Saturday October 8th. We are asking that everyone wear blue–her very favorite color. Her ashes will join her beloved husband’s ashes at Ft Rosecrans National cemetery in a private ceremony. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St Rose of Lima School, adopt-a-student.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.humphreymortuary.com for the Judge family.