Judith "Judy" P. Greenberg

Judith Peace (Watkins) Greenberg died on Wednesday March 19, 2025, 2 days short of her 83rd birthday. Eldest child of Miles and Peace Wakins, Judy had 2 sisters and 3 brothers she shared in the lifelong care of. She is survived by 2 brothers, 1 sister, and her husband William after 50 years of marriage. Judy and William attended Broadmead Quaker Meeting where a memorial service will be held in the future.

In December 2012, Judy wrote an auto-obituary which starts: “Judith Peace Watkins’ ancestors included countless generations of amphibians, mammals, and primates. She herself was born in upstate New York in 1942 to Miles and Peace Watkins. Her father, a small town and country minister, moved from town to town and church to church every five years or so as the church and the spirit moved him. Being born to Miles and Peace was the first great thing that happened to her, as they were idealistic, intelligent young people who were loving and creative in their living out of their faith.”

Judy finished her education with a Master’s degree in teaching at Bowling Green State University. She specialized in remedial reading in the Oregon City schools for 25 years, helping countless grade schoolers acquire a needed skill. She explored and used many innovative methods and materials (which she created) during her teaching career. After retiring, she undertook individual tutoring for kids needing extra help, and taught parents and volunteers how to help children acquire reading skills and a love of reading.

Judy’s personal love of reading is testified to by the hundreds of books she accumulated over her lifetime. Her reading interests spanned a variety of fiction, health information, social justice movements, organic gardening, earth ecology, poetry, and progressive Christianity. Not to be content with the writings of others, Judy was a profuse essayist and poet. A collection of her writings -- poems, essays, fantasies, and memories -- is in progress and is already over 250 pages.

Judy’s eye for art is evident in her watercolor paintings and skilled choice of colors in various milieu such as in our gardens. Her love of animals extended beyond the dogs of her childhood, and many cat companions she and Bill cherished all her life, to a concern for wildlife and the current human-driven extinction of species. Judy’s beautiful voice will be missed in family and Quaker songfests. Her deep kindness and generosity to people of every age, economic status, race, and creed have changed the world and serve as an example to us all.

Her auto-obituary concludes with “To the end of her life, Judy felt herself incredibly fortunate, and wondered why she had been so blessed in the important things in life.”

To share a memory of Judy or to leave a special message for her family, please visit the Guestbook below.