Obituary of Judith "Judy" Ann Kihle

Judith “Judy” Ann Kihle passed away January 27, 2016 peacefully after a long battle with Alzheimer’s. She was born August 28, 1938 in Ponca City, Oklahoma to Lucille and O.A. “Jim” Hudson. Judy spent her childhood in Ponca City and graduated from Ponca City High School in 1956. She went on to attend the University of Oklahoma where she found two of her life passions, children’s education and Sooner football. While at OU she pledged the sorority Alpha Chi Omega which she remained involved with many years later serving as an alumni chairman and recognized as their “Woman of the Year” in 2008 by Tulsa Area Alumnae Panhellenic. In 1960 she graduated from OU with a degree in Education and became a second grade teacher in Colorado before coming back to Ponca City and meeting the love of her life, Don Kihle. They married on July 18, 1964 and returned to OU where Judy received her Master’s Degree in Special Education while Don attended law school. She eventually stopped teaching to raise a family but when her oldest son was diagnosed with Dyslexia, she started taking courses at the University of Tulsa to specialize in this area and began tutoring children who struggled with this disability from her home. In 1967, Judy and Don moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma where she began to realize her dream of being a mother. Judy‘s greatest joy was being a mom to each of her four children and she spent countless hours helping at their schools and being their biggest cheerleader as well as chauffer for the many activities they pursued. Later in life Judy was equally as joyful and committed to being a grandmother. Judy had a passion to serve and was always willing to lend a helping hand no matter how big or small. She would naturally rise to leadership roles in nearly every organization she was involved with, but was always very modest about her accomplishments. The one she held dearest to her heart was the Tulsa Assistance League where she served passionately for most of her life as a past President and fostering their Operation School Bell program. Some others include: Recognized for her Outstanding Voluntary Service by JC Penney, Tulsa Town Hall Advisory Board Member, President of Junior Philharmonic Volunteer Council, Chairman of Tulsa Designer Showcase, President of several PTA’s, Campfire Leader, Boy Scout’s Den Mother, Gilcrease Museum Docent and Sunday School Teacher. Above all Judy loved life and did her best to live it to the fullest. She was an avid tennis player, skier, backpacker, tentative snorkeler and had a great short game with golf. She loved attending the opera, ballet or symphony with her husband, spending time with her friends and enjoying a glass of Chardonnay (only with ice) at the end of the day. She was one of a kind and will be truly missed by all. Judy was preceded in death by her parents, Lucille and Jim Hudson. She is survived by her husband of 51 years, Donald Arthur Kihle; her brother, John Kurte Hudson and his wife Reba Gail Hudson; her children, John Kevin Kihle, Anna Kirsten Kihle, Kathryn Kihle Pribish and Robert Kurte Kihle; her son and daughter-in laws, Lara Lane Kihle, Brendan Radley Pribish and Marcy Spence Kihle; her grandchildren Alex, Aden, Pierce and Hudson; her niece Audrey Hudson Lee and her nephew John Grant Hudson. A Memorial Celebration of Judy Kihle’s life will be held at 1:30 pm, Monday, February 1st at Boston Avenue United Methodist Church, 1301 S. Boston Ave. Following the service a reception will be held at Inverness Village, 3800 West 71st Street. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the “Alzheimer’s Association Research Fund” P.O. Box 96011 Washington, DC 20090-6011 or The Assistance League of Tulsa, 3408 E. 11th Street, Tulsa, OK 74112.