Born January 5, 1919, she was the daughter of Rev. Thompson Eldridge Ashby, pastor of the First Parish Church in Brunswick, and Harriet Worley Ashby. She graduated with the last high school class to attend Hawthorne School, began her college career at Bates and later transferred to Lesley in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where she graduated with a degree in education.
After a brief teaching career, she married Robert Porter White of Columbus, Ohio. They enjoyed 53 years of marriage. Bob was stationed in Brunswick to attend radar school at Bowdoin College in WWII. During the war she served as an Air Raid Warden, had a Victory Garden and worked with the Red Cross. After the war they moved several times before settling in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, where they stayed until returning to Brunswick in 1976.
She was an active part of the community in Bartlesville. She volunteered with the Women’s Hospital Auxiliary at Washington County Memorial Hospital and served part of that time as President of the auxiliary. She taught textile painting at the YWCA, was an active member of Hillcrest Country Club, a member of the Presbyterian Church, and two sewing clubs. She traveled the world extensively.
Every summer she returned to Mere Point enjoying water activities, antiquing and spending time with friends. Once they resettled in Brunswick, she became a member of Elijah Kellogg Church in Harpswell. They joined Navy League and developed a strong bond with their “Navy kids.”
Judy made a big impact on everyone who knew her. Known for her varied and extensive collections, her biggest collection was friends. At 98 she still had frequent visitors of all ages.
Rarely a day passed that she didn’t spend part of it doing needlework. She was never without projects including writing a cookbook for family and friends, a biography of her father, and her own personal memoirs.
She was preceded in death by her husband Robert. Surviving her are two daughters, Linda Coldwell of Brunswick, Maine and San Carlos, Sonora, Mexico, and Marcia Marshall of Scottsdale, Arizona; three grandchildren, Eric Coldwell of Evanston, Illinois, Kathy Burnell-Choi of Solana Beach, California, and Kristen Burnell of San Diego, California; and three greatgrandchildren, Jacob, Cecilia, and Annabel Coldwell of Evanston. Her loss will leave a big void in the lives of people in all corners of the world, but the pain of her loss is offset by the joy and inspiration she brought to so many.
The family is honoring her wish not to have a service, but will instead have a celebration of life at the family home in August. Donations may be made to the Travis Mills Foundation Veterans Retreat at https://www.travismills.org /donate/ or 89 Water Street, Hallowell, Maine 04347. Travis is a quadruple amputee who served in the United States Army with the 82nd Airborne Division in Afghanistan. Over the past year Judy read his book and followed his inspiring story. She mentioned several times she wanted to do something to help support the work he is doing for disabled veterans.
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