Judith Jean Lopes passed away on January 3, 2018. Judy was born on June 22, 1941, in Lovelock, Nevada, to Frank and Elsie Wagner and she was raised in Winnemucca with her sisters, Frances (Allega) and Donna (Jones).
Judy graduated from Humboldt County High School, and during that time, she met the love of her life, Vince, while he was serving in the United States Air Force and stationed in Winnemucca. Judy and Vince were married January 30, 1960, and celebrated their 56th wedding anniversary prior to Vince’s passing in September 2016.
Thereafter, Judy moved to a memory care facility in Southern California where she spent the final year of her life. Vince and Judy lived briefly in Las Vegas after Vince was discharged from the service, but it did not take long for Winnemucca to call her home. After the birth of her two sons, Steve and Lance, the family left Las Vegas to move to Winnemucca, where they built their home they lived in for 54 years.
Judy had a long career at Nevada Bell, which became AT&T. After the local office was closed, Judy started the second chapter of her work life at Sierra Pacific Power Company where she spent many years until her retirement. Judy had many fond memories of working with those many men and women at Nevada Bell and Sierra Pacific. Judy volunteered her time to community efforts for decades. She was a long time volunteer of the Poke n’ Peek Thrift Shop, which benefits the Humboldt Hospital Auxiliary. She was also very active in the St. Paul’s Catholic Community.
Judy always put her hand up when someone asked for help. She supported her husband Vince and their sons with all their activities from Little League baseball and basketball up through their years playing college football in Oregon. She was always by the side of her husband and together they experienced many fun events from Rose Bowls and Parades to Super Bowls.
After retirement, Judy and Vince enjoyed visiting Hawaii and they spent their retirement years traveling between Winnemucca, Seattle and Los Angeles visiting their grandchildren, Katie, Sydney, Peter, Jennifer and Matt. Her grandchildren became her passion in her later years, and nothing made her more excited than having one or more visit them in Winnemucca. She loved arts and crafts, and there was not a craft project that she and her mother Elsie did not tackle at one point or another, from doll making to calligraphy. Judy also enjoyed caring for her beautiful backyard garden and her dogs.
She will be dearly missed by her family, friends and the Winnemucca community, where she spent her entire life. A memorial service will be held in Winnemucca at a date to be determined. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to the Winnemucca Chapter Alzheimer’s Association.
