Judith Kay Ketner, 83, of Columbus, passed away January 4, 2023, at Silver Oaks Health Campus. She was born to Wilbur (Red) and Mary Viola (Lain) Perry on May 13, 1939 in Columbus. She married Paul A. Ketner at Bethel Baptist Church on Nov 17, 1962. They just celebrated 60 years of marriage.
Judith graduated Columbus High School in 1957 and began her professional career at Irwin Management. Following her marriage she added farm wife to her resume’, as she and Paul formed the Hawclif Farms partnership. She also worked in bookkeeping and payroll for Elsbury’s Greenhouse.
Active membership at St Peter’s Lutheran Church included the Mary Martha Circle. She lived her faith by caring for a number of elderly family members for many years, including her parents, Aunt Wilma Thomas, Aunt Olive Perry, and Uncle Dennis Lain.
Judith is survived by her husband, sons Steven (Raquel) Ketner of Columbus, Michael (Emily) Ketner of Hope, and daughter Kristin (Nathan) Lykins of Hope. Also surviving are grandchildren Zachary Ketner, Courtney (Logan) Westerfield, Kayle’, Cameron, Bridgette and Jacob Ketner, and Reilly and Cooper Lykins. Also surviving are her brother Richard (Anita) Perry, sisters-in-law Elaine and Lynne Ketner, 2 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
Judith was predeceased by her parents, twin grand-sons Dakota and Dominic Ketner, beloved niece Kate Perry Miller, her mother-in-law Doris Ketner, brother-in-law Jonathan Ketner and his wife Sara.
Judith loved travel with the REMC and Farm Bureau boards and camping across the country with friends and family. She enjoyed reading, gardening, her flowers, and her grandkids, none of which captures how active, organized, intelligent and accomplished she was at everything to which she turned her interest.
The family would like to extend gratitude both to the wonderful, caring staff at Silver Oaks and to Hospice for their kindness, warmth and understanding.
The funeral service will be held at Myers-Reed Chapel, Friday, Jan. 20 at 10 a.m., conducted by Pastors Mark Teike and Tim Carter, followed by burial at Garland Brook Cemetery. Visitation for family and friends will be 5-8 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 19. Please direct any memorials to St. Peter’s Lutheran Church Organ Fund, or Our Hospice of South Central Indiana.
