Judith Ann Wright
Dec 9, 1945December 9, 1945
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Judith Ann Wright
Dec 9, 1945December 9, 1945
Place of birth
Brazil, IN
Most recently lived in
Wabash, IN
Judith's favorite hobbies
Judith's favorite foods
breakfast at the Fried Egg
Favorite bands and musical artists
Elvis Presley
Interesting facts about Judith
Judith Anne (Ward) Wright, a beloved pillar of the arts community in Wabash, Indiana, passed away after a long illness with breast cancer and entered into eternity on ________. Judy was born on December 9, 1945 in Brazil, Indiana to Stanley and Irene Cobley. She was a 1963 graduate of Brazil High School and went on to obtain her undergraduate and master’s degrees from Indiana State University. Judy began her 45 year career as an elementary music teacher in 1967 in Auburn, Indiana and moved to Wabash, Indiana in 1971. She taught at W.C. Mills, Eastwood, West Ward, L.H. Carpenter, and O.J. Neighbors elementary schools between 1971 and 2012. After her retirement, she continued to accompany choirs at Northfield and Wabash High Schools through 2023. Judy’s servant-heartedness and love of the arts impacted thousands of students and families in and around Wabash. She helped lead and served as the musical director for many Wabash Area Community Theater productions. She helped lead and direct the Visual and Performing Arts summer youth theater productions for nearly 40 years. She was the choir director at the Wabash Christian Church for 46 years. She taught piano lessons for over 50 years. She performed in each of the “monster” piano concerts held in Wabash. She founded a youth choir in Wabash. She led and directed the madrigal dinner at the Honeywell Center. She brought the FAME arts festival to Wabash for students. She formed and directed an adult choir named Market Street Beat. She was active in Kiwanis and was named the Kiwanian of the year in 2013. She was a Distinguished Citizen award recipient. Judy loved to travel with family and friends and particularly enjoyed traveling to Siesta Key, Hawaii, Branson, and Pigeon Forge. She was an avid reader of books. She taught Sunday school She loved spending time with her friends and family. She loved being a grandma and was extremely proud of her grandkids. She had a huge heart and her generosity knew no bounds. She constantly focused on others even through her illness. Judy married Ed Norris in 1967 and gave birth to her son, Edwin Scott Norris, in 1975. She divorced in 1978 and married fellow music teacher Don Ward in 1981. Judy was widowed in 1994 and underwent treatment for breast cancer in 1994-1995. She had a second, more serious, illness with breast cancer in 2002-2003. Dr. Marvin Wright asked her to be his valentine in 2023 and they were married on June 25, 2023. Judy fell ill in early 2024 and was eventually diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer in April.
Judith loved nothing more than
her family and friends
Favorite place in the world
Siesta Key, Hawaii
Favorite TV shows
the Hallmark Channel
Favorite sports
Watching her grandsons play baseball
Obituary
Judith Anne (Ward) Wright, a beloved pillar of the arts community in Wabash, Indiana, passed away after a long illness with breast cancer and entered into eternity. Born on December 9, 1945, in Brazil, Indiana, to Stanley and Irene Cobley, Judy was a proud graduate of Brazil High School’s class of 1963. She furthered her education at Indiana State University, earning both undergraduate and master’s degrees.
Judy began her impactful 45-year career as an elementary music teacher in 1967 in Auburn, Indiana, before moving to Wabash in 1971. Throughout her career, she taught at various elementary schools, including W.C. Mills, Eastwood, West Ward, L.H. Carpenter, and O.J. Neighbors, until her retirement in 2012. Even after retiring, her passion for music education continued as she accompanied choirs at Northfield and Wabash High Schools through 2023.
Her servant-heartedness and love for the arts enriched the lives of thousands of students and families in and around Wabash. Judy played a vital role in the Wabash Area Community Theater as a musical director and was instrumental in directing summer youth theater productions for nearly 40 years. She served as the choir director at the Wabash Christian Church for 46 years and taught piano lessons for over 50 years, making significant contributions to the local arts scene, including founding a youth choir and leading the madrigal dinner at the Honeywell Center. Judy was active in Kiwanis, earning the title of Kiwanian of the Year in 2013, and was honored with the Distinguished Citizen award.
Beyond her professional achievements, Judy cherished time spent with family and friends. She loved traveling to favorite destinations such as Siesta Key, Hawaii, and Branson, as well as watching her grandsons play baseball. An avid reader and fan of the Hallmark Channel, Judy was known for her huge heart, boundless generosity, and her unwavering focus on others, even during her illness. She delighted in being a grandmother and was immensely proud of her grandchildren, who brought her immense joy.
Judy is survived by her husband, Dr. Marvin Wright, whom she married on June 25, 2023; her son, Ed Norris; daughters-in-law Jennifer Norris, Nancy Stephens, and Jill Denman; and son-in-law Joe Wright. She leaves behind her sister, Janice Redenbarger; grandsons Edwin, Ethan, Gavin, Will, Sam, and Zach; granddaughters Ainsley, Willow, and Julia; nieces Susan, Sally, and Jennifer; extended family; and countless friends. She was dearly loved and will be greatly missed.
Judy lived by the words, "I've lived a life that's full, I traveled each and every highway, and more, much more than this, I did it my way." Her legacy of kindness, love, and musical talent will resonate in the hearts of all who knew her.
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Born on December 9, 1945
Brazil, IN