JUDITH ANN WILSON GERNER BIFFLE
July 17, 1941 - June 28, 2022
Judy Biffle passed away peacefully at her home in Houston, surrounded by love and family, on June 28, 2022, after a long battle with breast cancer. She was 80 years young.
Judy was born in Fremont, Nebraska, on July 17, 1941, to Don and Goldie Wilson. She spent her early years living an idyllic life in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. When Judy was 13, the family moved to San Diego, California. She attended Hoover High School and graduated with honors. After graduation, she moved to Seguin, Texas, and attended Texas Lutheran College on an academic scholarship. Judy studied Pre-Med and became a licensed Physical Therapist. She moved to Houston in 1963 and worked at Hermann Hospital. In 1964, she married Ken Gerner. They had two children, Scott and Kimberly, and they lived a good family life together.
After several years of PT practice, she started and managed a successful PT Clinic. Judy then took time away from her profession to stay at home and raise her children. During this time, she also found joy and purpose through volunteer work with MD Anderson Cancer Center.
In 1988, when Judy was in her late 40s, she returned to Texas Lutheran University and graduated with a BA in Biology. Upon graduation, MD Anderson offered her the position of Director, Anderson Network. Judy turned the program into the largest patient-to-patient cancer support group in the nation. As part of the program, she organized an annual conference which was attended by thousands of cancer patients and their caregivers. Eventually, Judy also served as Director over the 1-800-4Cancer “Ask MD Anderson” department. Later, she was the visionary who started “A Place of Wellness;” a place where cancer patients can enjoy free access to complementary therapies intended to enhance quality of life. This was the first program of its kind in the nation as part of a nationally-recognized cancer center. It is now known as the MD Anderson Integrative Medicine Center.
Judy loved public speaking and had the honor of presenting at universities, conferences, and congregations on numerous occasions. She became a sought-after speaker, which led to her being asked to speak to the President’s Cancer Council, initiated by President Bill Clinton. Judy was eventually named the CancerWise Speaker of the Year.
Judy also spent her life volunteering and serving others. She had a lifetime filled with unique opportunities and experiences, such as mission trips to El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Peru. She was nominated, and then chosen, for the prestigious “Leadership Houston” organization. She served on numerous committees and Boards, such as the MD Anderson Jung Institute, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, Lutheran Seminary of the Southwest, National Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, and she was a
Texas Lutheran University Corporate Board Member. She became the first woman Congregational President of Kinsmen Lutheran Church. Later, she became the first woman Vice President in the ELCA Church Synod (the highest non-clergy lay position in the national church). In 2002, Judy was honored to receive the Texas Lutheran University Distinguished Service Award.
In November of 2001,
Judy married Ron Biffle. They lived a full and active life together by traveling the world, spending time at their home on Lake Conroe, and cooking together. They also found joy in entertaining a crowd, and Judy had a talent for planning unique parties and holiday celebrations in their home, and she did it all with such grace and class, all the while making it look effortless. Thanksgiving will never be the same without her award-winning cornbread dressing and giblet gravy. Judy and Ron were blessed to share over 20+ years of wonderful experiences, which created cherished memories that will last a lifetime.
Judy relished spending time with family and friends over food, drinks, and lively conversations, and felt it was important to continually nurture those relationships. She was a great listener who was always willing to talk about difficult or controversial issues, with an open mind. She was a bright, strong, independent woman with a quick wit, who was passionate about many subjects and could hold her own. She had a long history of standing up for what she believed in and stood for equal and fair rights for everyone, especially women’s rights.
Judy was first diagnosed with colon cancer in 2001. Her battle with cancer, while working as Director of MD Anderson, was documented in an article in the Houston Chronicle. She underwent treatment and was deemed to be in remission five years later. In 2015, she was then diagnosed with breast cancer. During Judy’s seven-year battle with breast cancer, she remained upbeat, courageous, and hopeful. She never doubted that the Lord was continuously by her side, walking with her on this journey. The abundance of never-ceasing prayers by her loving friends and family lifted her up and sustained her, daily, which gave her the strength to never surrender to this disease, even at the very end. The family would like to express appreciation to the wonderful doctors and nurses at MD Anderson, especially her oncologist, Dr. Booser, for his faithful determination in exhausting every opportunity for Judy’s treatment and care.
Judy was predeceased by her parents, Don & Goldie Wilson. She is survived by her devoted husband, Ron Biffle; sisters, Donna Wilson, Susan Lambeth and husband Bob, niece Kelly Brick and husband Travis, great-nephew Matthew; son, Scott Gerner and wife Shari; daughter, Kimberly Davis and husband Steven; stepdaughters, Mitzi Abbott, Tina Bailey and husband Roger; grandchildren, Kyleigh, Lexie, Brady, Peyton, Morgan, and Travis, in addition to numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.
A celebration of Judy’s life will occur at Kinsmen Lutheran Church in Houston, Texas, on Saturday, July 23, 2022, at 3:30 pm, followed by a reception.
In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests with gratitude that memorial contributions in Judy’s honor be directed to: Kinsmen Lutheran Church, MD Anderson Cancer Center, and/or Texas Lutheran University.