William M. Judd

William M. “Bill” Judd passed away Friday, 25 April 2025, at age 79. Bill’s story starts with a dutiful WWII Soldier marrying his bride in June 1944, before shipping out for Europe in January 1945. Moving across Europe with the 69th Inf Division through the Battle of the Bulge, to linking up with Russian forces in April 1945 at Torgau on the Elbe River, before moving on to Berlin just three months before the soldier’s son, Bill, was born. Bill was born in Dayton, Ohio, on July 21st, 1945, to parents LaVona M. and Staff Sergeant Herman M. Judd. In the early 1950s his family migrated first to southern New Mexico following his maternal grandparents where a baby brother joined the family in 1952. In May 1953, the family moved to El Paso, Texas, where Bill grew up, embracing the multiple cultures of a southwest Texas border town. A kid of the fifties, Bill loved his pals from the block, growing up in “Hacienda Heights” and putting up with a pesky little brother seven years his junior. As he got older, he was into fast Fords and could often be seen crusin’ the neighborhood in his cherry-red ‘55 Ford Victoria. Bill, also known as “BJ” to his many friends, loved music of all types. He grew up on Rock-n-Roll, the music of Elvis Presley, Little Richard, Bill Haley and the Comets, Buddy Holly, and Chuck Berry, and later on to Chubby Checker. He later became a huge Motown fan following the Temptations and the Four Tops and on to the Rolling Stones and Barry White before becoming a huge fan of Waylon and Willie and th’ boys. Bill also embraced the culture of West Texas. He enjoyed Tejano music and loved Tex-Mex food, especially tacos. Bill had a huge heart and would often go to great lengths to make others happy, family, friends, or strangers. If he knew of someone in dire straits, he would help in any way he could. One Christmas, he learned of a family where the father was out of work due to illness, and there was no food in the house. Bill and his mom, reached out to a local DJ and helped organize a food drive, bringing in enough food to help several families that Christmas. In the 1990s, Bill became his mother’s primary caregiver. When she decided to relocate to Leavenworth, Kansas, Bill made the move as well. He reestablished himself and began working in the hotel maintenance trade, an area where he excelled and made many new friends. After almost 20 years in Kansas, when his mother’s health declined, she relocated to Northern Virginia in 2010, reestablishing the whole family again in one place. Again, Bill shouldered the task of moving Mom to Manassas, Virginia. Bill enjoyed a close relationship with his mother and family, now all living in one location. Bill continued to serve as his mom’s caregiver until she passed in 2014. Her passing deeply impacted Bill; leaving a loss he never fully recovered from. Bill was also generous with family and friends. Bill liked nothing better than surprising his mom, or brother and sister-in-law or Sarah, his God-niece with an unexpected kindness. He was always there when needed. Even In his 70’s, Bill could always be counted on when needed to get up early and drive Sarah to or from school unexpectedly. He saw that as what he should do as her “Uncle Bill” ‘on call.’ A long-time member of the Train Collectors Association, Bill enjoyed collecting and operating model trains and attending Train Shows, and his love of trains, did not stop with models. He enjoyed travelling by train, going to train museums, and loved ”Anything Amtrak.” He was widely recognized by Amtrak crews with a wave along the right of way when spotted with his camera taking photos. He delighted in having friends visit to see his layout… and meet his Ct, “Buster,” who Bill loved dearly. Bill enjoyed many great times together with his brother, Doug, attending the TCA Train Shows in York, PA, over the last 20+ years, collecting trains and sharing the experience. They routinely surprised each other with trains on birthdays and Christmas, or for no reason at all. Over the years, Bill had his ups and downs, but he never gave up. He was amazingly resilient in so many ways. In recent months, however, he developed numerous major health problems and struggled with diabetes. He had been in and out of local medical rehab facilities. On Easter Sunday evening, 20 April 2025, Bill was taken from the rehab facility by EMS to the Emergency Room at the UVA Hospital in Manassas, Virginia. His condition continued to quickly decline, and he was eventually admitted to the Intermediate Critical Care Unit. His condition worsened and he was transferred to comfort care. Sadly, Bill passed away peacefully and quietly on Friday evening, 25 April 2025. Bill was known for his sense of humor, his generosity, and his loyalty to family and friends, and he left a void that cannot be filled. His family and friends all miss him greatly. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) or adopting a cat or dog from your local Animal Shelter or Humane Society.

William M. Judd

July 21, 1945 - April 25, 2025