Judith (Judy) Spain
Judith Ellen (Judy) Spain of Eldorado passed away on October
25, 2018 in Santa Fe following a lung infection. Born on January
16, 1941 in Parkersburg, Iowa, she was the second child of Terrance and Dorothy Spain, and the younger sister, of John Spain, who died this past July.
Judy grew up on the family farm outside of Parkersburg. In 1959, she graduated from Parkersburg High School, and in 1963, she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Library Science, with a minor in Physical Education from the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls. She was a high school librarian and golf coach in Hawarden, Iowa for two school years before returning to the University of Northern Iowa to receive her MS in personnel administration and counseling in 1967.
From 1967 to 1996 Judy worked at the University of Wisconsin-Stout in Menomonie, Wisconsin; first as Assistant Director of Housing, then as Associate Housing Director, and became Director of Residence Life in 1972. Upon her retirement from UWStout, a Judy Spain scholarship award was endowed. Her activism for LGBT rights, women’s athletic programs and religious devotion as a lay minister for the Catholic Diocese of LaCrosse show the breadth of her life during these years.
Following her retirement, Judy moved to San Francisco in 1996 to be with her partner, Christine Zampach. During her time there, Judy was a volunteer park ranger at Ft. Mason and at the SPCA, joined St. James Episcopal church and served as Senior Warden, and was active in LGBT and women’s issues. When Christine retired from the medical school at the University of California-San Francisco in 2010, they moved to their current home in Eldorado, New Mexico. Between 2010 and her passing, Judy was an active member of St. Bede’s Episcopal Church in Santa Fe, and served as Senior Warden of the Vestry in 2013-14. She was also a member of the Board of the Vista Grande Public Library in Eldorado.
Judy is survived by Christine Zampach, her loving partner of 22 years and spouse for the last four of those years; niece Jackie (Bill) Hager of Parkersburg, Iowa, great nephew Aaron Buss (deceased), his children Kennedy, Alexis, and Taylor (Brittany) Buss, and their children Elizabeth and Henry; nephew Stephen (Beth) Spain of Mooresville, North Carolina, and great-nephew Johnathan and great-niece Madison; niece Connie (Jim) Wollschlager of Lakeville, Minnesota and great-nephew Thomas; friends of decades--Kay Carter, her brother Russell, and Deb Allyn; the congregation of St. Bede’s; and their cat, Perky.
A memorial service will be celebrated at St. Bede’s Episcopal Church at 11 a. m. on Saturday, December 1, 2018, with the Rev. M. Catherine Volland officiating. A reception and luncheon will be held in the parish hall following the service. Wanting to end up where she began, Judy requested that her ashes be scattered at the family farm in Parkersburg, Iowa this coming spring. In her honor, a tree will be planted in the front yard of the home where she was raised. Contributions can be made in Judy’s name to St. Bede’s Episcopal Church, 550 W. San Mateo Rd., Santa Fe, New Mexico 87505.