Shelia "Les" Leslie Judd

Shelia Leslie (“Les” or “Slim”) Judd was born in Cookeville, TN on June 5, 1928 to Amanda Pearl Judd (Cunningham) and Ridley Lee Judd. He was one of nine children.   

Les joined the U.S. Army Air Corps at 17 and served as part of the Occupation Forces in Germany after the end of World War II. During his service, he was part of the Berlin Air Lift, for which he received a medal. He traveled extensively throughout Europe during his service years, making a special point to visit Ireland, home of his ancestors. 

Throughout his life he worked in several states, including Kansas, Ohio, Michigan, Missouri, California, Tennessee, and Indiana. He did everything from extrusion, to line production, to spot welding, to forklift driving. He worked for major car companies in Detroit; St. Louis Refrigerator in Missouri; Douglas Aircraft in California; and finally settled at Industrial Lamp Corporation (now Patrick Industries) in Elkhart, IN, and retired after 23 years. 

At 39, he married Rosalee Steward and moved to Mishawaka shortly thereafter. At 40, he was blessed with his only child - a daughter.  He divorced at 63, never remarrying.

He loved Mexican food (the hotter, the better), country music, Las Vegas, and horse racing.  Horse racing was a life-long passionate hobby, taking him to tracks across the U.S. He was a loving, family man who never met a stranger and was always ready with a silly joke or a helping hand, whichever you needed most. To say that he will be greatly missed, is a gross understatement.

He died on Monday, October 5, 2020, at age 92, finally succumbing to the ravages of dementia. He passed peacefully at home with his daughter and his precious cat, Milo, by his side.

He is survived by daughter, Amanda Valerie Judd (MN); grandson, William F. Dettman, III (Portage, IN); “surrogate” daughter, Lucy Magee (South Bend, IN); beloved sister, Jean Randolph (Osceola, IN) and ex-wife, Rosalee Judd (Elkhart, IN). He is also survived by loving nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, great-great nieces and great-great nephews too numerous to mention. Finally, he is survived by a few very close friends:  Cliff Lawson, Barb Grose, Robin Allison Nemes, and Joyce Gosztola. He is preceded in death by his parents; step-father, Clarence LaFever; brother, Odell LaFever; sisters, Dimple Monteleone, Buelah Nash, Willie Pearl Judd, Hazel Keith, Anna Kate Judd; step-sister, Willie Cee Pittman, and life-long best friend, Cecil Luke.

He will be cremated, and his remains buried in a family cemetery in Cookeville. A memorial service will be held in both Mishawaka, IN and in Cookeville, TN at a later date.  

Elkhart Cremation Services is entrusted with his arrangements. 

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