Elaine Judge

Elaine Judge, 84, of Evans, passed away Sunday, November 23, 2014 at the Arbors of Marietta following an extended illness. She was born September 17, 1928 at Kenna, WV, daughter of the late Ephriam and Lennie Reed Hatcher. She was a graduate of Ripley High School and Morris Harvey College in Charleston. Elaine was also a Christian and a member of the Ripley Tabernacle Church. Early in her career, Elaine taught school in southern Jackson County at several one-room locations including First Creek, Belgrove, Stonelick and Forest Home. She often joked that the only injury she received throughout a varied and productive working career was an arm she injured when she fell off of a horse she was riding to work. She was later hired by the post office and went on to work 27 years for the government, the last 20 as postmaster at Kenna. Retirement brought a third career as a volunteer. She was active with the Senior 4-H Club, Cub Scouts, the Jackson County Library and spent eight years as a volunteer at Jackson General Hospital, including the drug detox and mental health unit. Elaine was a Senator in the Silver Haired Legislature and worked tirelessly to make West Virginia one of the first states to enact Amber Alert Legislation. She was always quick to point out that her greatest achievement and source of pride were her five sons. In 1999 Elaine lost her partner and mate when her husband, W.S. "Bill" Judge, passed away after 52 years of marriage. Surviving: Sons, David Judge (Kathy), of Evans, Thomas Judge (Cheryl), of Millwood, Kenneth Judge (Casandra) of Evans, Paul Judge (Judy), of South Carolina and John Judge (Lisa) of Kenna; Sister, Phyllis Hatcher Winter; Thirteen grandchildren and twenty great-grandchildren. In addition to her parents and husband, Elaine was also preceded in death by brothers Clyde and Burhl Hatcher and sisters Lucy Hill, Nancy Koontz, Hazel Garnes, Betty Hutchinson and Ellen Doolittle. A service celebrating the life of Elaine Judge will be at 1p.m. Wednesday, November 26, 2014 at Waybright Funeral Home, Ripley, with Pastor Larry Lemley officiating. Interment will follow the service at Blaine Memorial Cemetery, Cottageville. Friends may call at the funeral home Tuesday evening from 6-8p.m. Online condolences for the Judge family may be sent to www.waybrightfuneralhome.com. Service: Wednesday, November 26, 2014 1p.m. Waybright Funeral Home Visitation: Tuesday, November 25, 2014 6-8p.m. Waybright Funeral Home