Judith Willoughby

Judy Willoughby, of Riner, passed away on Monday, November 21, 2011, after a long and painful illness. She bore her afflictions with courage and grace, and is now in the presence of her God, whom she served well and faithfully throughout her lifetime.

Judy was born in Kingsport, TN on August 26, 1940, and spent her formative years in Knoxville and Chattanooga. She graduated from Girls Preparatory School in 1958 and entered Emory and Henry College that fall, where she met Ron Willoughby, then a rising senior. They were married on August 24, 1959 and lived in Chattanooga, TN, Portsmouth, VA and Charlottesville, VA before settling in Radford in 1964. By that time the family had doubled in size. Rick was born in December 1960 and Kathy in July, 1962.

Judy knew from an early age that she wanted to live a life of service, and she never wavered from that path. Whether in a professional capacity, as a volunteer, a friend, a wife, parent or daughter, her concern was for the welfare of others. Her greatest regret as her illness took its toll was that she became less and less able to take care of others.

In 1968 Judy established the Central UMC pre-school program, which grew from a single class to several classes involving different age groups. That program is still thriving. In 1976 Judy returned to school and earned a Bachelor of Social Work degree from Radford University. She then joined the Social Work Department at Pulaski Community Hospital, where she eventually served as chair of the department and received the Frist Humanitarian Award. She was also instrumental in starting the first volunteer hospice organization in Pulaski County. During her tenure at the hospital, she began work on her Master of Social Work degree, and on completion, passed the examinations for Licensed Clinical Social Worker and for licensing from the Commonwealth of Virginia. In 1991, she established her own practice, Valley Counseling Services, which she built from a solo practice into a group practice with six therapists at the present time. She was forced by ill health to retire from the practice in 2001, a great loss for her.

Judy’s life was devoted to the service of others. She had a warm, engaging manner, a bright smile, and an infectious giggle. She was active in church activities too numerous to list, such as serving as Sunday School teacher for both children and adults, and was especially devoted to any service involving the welfare of children.

Judy was above all a loving and devoted wife, mother and grandmother, sister and friend, and her passing leaves a large hole in our lives and hearts. Survivors include Ron, her husband of fifty-two years; son, Rick and his wife, Beth; daughter, Kathy; and Wesley, her beloved granddaughter; her brother Dick Garner and wife, Sandy; niece, Natalie Goodwin; and her children, Emily, Sidney and Drew; nephews, Joe and Rich Garner and their wives, Sarah and Julie; and little Logan, Rich and Julie’s daughter; her mother-in-law, Ruth Willoughby; and sister-in-law, Becky Dinan; and Shadow, her constant companion these past ten years, who never failed to bring a smile to Judy’s face even in the most difficult times.

Special thanks to the team at Carilion Hospice of Radford and to our dear friends and church family for providing spiritual and physical comfort to all of us during Judy’s long and difficult illness. How could we have done it without you?

A celebration of Judy’s life will be held at The Presbyterian Church of Radford on Friday, November 25, at 1 pm, followed by a reception in the fellowship hall. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Judy Willoughby Scholarship Fund at Emory and Henry College, Emory, VA 24327, or to The Presbyterian Church of Radford, 4th and Randolph Street, Radford, VA 24141.