Obituary of Judith Druscilla Dawe

Judith Druscilla Dawe (née Simms) passed away on April 4, 2023, while under the care of Compassionate Care Hospice at Highland Manor, Exeter. Born in Lehman on June 2, 1926, she was the daughter of the late Alfred Beattie Simms and Ruth Major. She graduated from Lehman High School, where she was a drum major in the band and a cellist in the orchestra.

In 1948, she married Gordon Dawe at a ceremony in Baltimore, where she had recently completed her nursing degree at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and was moved to service in the United States World War II Cadet Nursing Corps. She was also a school nurse at the Lake-Lehman School District for many years.

Judy was a life-long member of the Lehman United Methodist Church. She served in countless stewardship positions throughout her lifetime. Yet, her favorite was as a Sunday School teacher and superintendent for the many "Lehman Kids" who went on to teach at the same Sunday School as adults. She served as Lehman Township's historian for many years. For her 80th birthday, her family and friends endowed the Judith Simms Dawe Photo Collection of Back Mountain History at Misericordia University, later published in Pennsylvania's Back Mountain (Images of America) by Harrison Wick (2009).

She was a long-time fan of the Mansfield University Concert Choir under the baton of Dr. Peggy Dettwiler of which her grandson, John, was a member from 1999-2002. She joined the choir for its 2002 European Tour as a "tagalong" and enjoyed recounting stories of the adventure for the past two decades. Yet, her favorite memory was of her surprise 80th birthday party in 2006, a 100-person gathering, including her exchange-student-daughter Helena DeHevesy from Sweden.

Judith was preceded in death by her husband Gordon, brother William, and son Christopher. She is survived by her son William (Dorothy) and her "one and only favorite grandson," John, all of whom reside in Lehman Township; her nephews Gregory Simms (Kerrie) of Syracuse, NY and Bryan Simms of Lehman Township; and her extended family Barbara Nanstiel of Edwardsville, Philip and Penny Reid of Beaumont, Sarah Reid (Eric Yetter) of Owego, NY, and Christiana Joy Reid (Tim Behnam) of Baltimore, plus assorted great nieces and nephews. She was especially close to her niece Deborah McGrath (Ed Simmons) of Vero Beach, Florida, and her Bland cousins of Gloucester County, Virginia.

Judy's family would like to thank the kind caregivers at Compassionate Care Hospice (especially Rev. Dennis Gray) and Highland Manor Nursing Home. Judy was a caregiver throughout her entire life, and we are grateful her end-of-life support was commensurate with the care she provided others for so long.

A graveside memorial service will be held Saturday, May 27, 2023 at 11:00 AM at the Lehman Center Cemetery, Lehman Township, officiated by long-time family friend Rev. W. James Pall of Maple Grove United Methodist Church.

Arrangements are by the Curtis L. Swanson Funeral Home, Inc., corner of routes 29 and 118, Pikes Creek.

Instead of flowers, her family requests that gift be made to the Judith Dawe Memorial Fund, c/o The

Luzerne Foundation, 34 South River Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702.

The family requests that if you are planning on attending the service, that you RSVP at daweconsulting.com/judy if possible.

Online condolences may be made to clswansonfuneralhome.com