Judith Wolfe

Judith Ann (Suttmiller) Wolfe was called to eternal life on June 26, 2026, at the age of 81.

Born on August 28, 1944, in Cincinnati, Ohio, Judy was raised in Dayton, where she graduated from Julienne High School. She later earned her nursing degree from Barry University in Miami, Florida. She was always proud of her Dayton heritage and worked there as a pediatric nurse after graduation. Judy was tall which seems like an odd detail to include unless you know that one evening she and a short nurse friend met two Air Force officers (one tall and one short) when they went out one night. The men asked them to dance based on their respective heights. The tall one was named Tim.

In January 1969, Judy married the love of her life, Timothy Wolfe. Together they built a home centered on love, learning, hospitality, family, and faith. She found her greatest joy in being a stay-at-home mother, raising their four children: Michael, Matthew, TJ, and Jennifer. She was blessed with eight granddaughters: Elizabeth, Abigail, Sarah, Laura, Madeleine, Olivia, Aeris, and Valentine as well as and one great-grandson: Jackson, all of whom brought her immense joy.

As her children grew older, Judy served as the community service coordinator at the children's high school, encouraging students to give back to others. She later combined her love of history and art by volunteering as a docent at the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center in Fremont and a children's guide at the Toledo Museum of Art.

After retirement, Judy and Tim settled in Centerville where she treasured spending time with family. She especially enjoyed time with her siblings, Barb, Tim, and Tom, loved getting to know her niece Megan and nephew Danny as adults, and delighted in watching their families grow. She treasured getting to reconnect with old friends and making new ones within her neighborhood community.

Judy had a gift for making life beautiful. She wanted her home to be a place where everyone felt welcome. Judy loved entertaining and she always seemed to find a reason to celebrate. No occasion was ordinary-whether it was a birthday, a baptism, a first job, or even a half birthday. She believed every milestone deserved a cake and every Christmas and birthday deserved a thoughtfully chosen gift. Judy believed all of life's moments—both big and small—were worth making beautiful. She delighted in decorating for every season, especially Christmas, and took great joy in her beloved collection of Christmas bears. When her children were young she even kept a special bear Christmas tree in the kitchen, so that every family dinner during the Christmas season was filled with extra cheer.

Family history was especially important to Judy. She took great pride in her family's heritage, including the legacy of Suttmiller's Restaurant in Dayton. She loved sharing family stories, treasured photographs and keepsakes that preserved precious memories for future generations.

She loved decorating, art, history, reading, travel, and music. Judy loved traveling to new places with Timothy, and some of their favorite adventures were to Alaska, Hawaii, Europe, and several cruises. Family vacations always included what became affectionately known as "Mom's Enforced Day of Culture," when she would lead everyone on one educational adventure on each trip. What began as a playful family joke became a tradition her children remember fondly. She was an enthusiastic fan of The Beach Boys, Straight No Chaser, and musical theatre. Judy had a beautiful singing voice which could be enjoyed if you sat next to her in church. While not all of her kids inherited her vocal talents, all of them did inherit a deep appreciation and love of music.

Judy was preceded in death by her parents, Theodore and Dorothy Suttmiller, and her siblings, Barbara Murtaugh and Timothy Suttmiller.

The world is a little less beautiful without Judy in it, but the love she gave, the traditions she created, her legacy of celebrating life’s everyday moments, and her appreciation of beauty and learning will continue to brighten the lives of her family for generations.

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