Donald "Babe" Leon Judy, Sr.

Donald “Babe” Leon Judy, Sr., of Cheyenne, passed on April 10, 2024, at the Veterans Administration Community Life Center, while surrounded by his loving family and wonderful VA caregivers. He was 98.
Don was born on August 14, 1925, in Burns, Wyoming, to Grover Cleveland Judy and Pearl Mildred (Judy) Zimmerman. They had five children. As the youngest child growing up, he was called Babe by his father. It was a nickname that would stay with him and was how friends and family affectionally knew him until his passing.
Babe grew up farming in the Albin and Burns area, but the hardships of the time pulled him to Cheyenne for work, and when WWII broke out it was there that he enlisted in the U.S. Navy to serve the country and “see the world.” And that he did, from his ship’s commissioning through decommissioning, which included his combat service covering the difficult battles in the Pacific arena from July 1944 through the defeat and occupation of Japan. Upon returning from the war, he fell in love with Nancy Faye Irving. They married January 1, 1948, and together raised a family with five children while sharing the joys and difficulties of life.
Babe went to work for Powers Brick and Tile in Cheyenne, where his “family” grew to include the many construction contractors and builders in the Cheyenne area, who all befriended the man who would always go out of his way to provide the materials and support they needed. While doing that, Babe ensured Powers became a manufacturing success. Moreover, as plant foreman he gave numerous young adults not just employment, but the experience and mentoring relationship that helped them develop into responsible men for life.
Working at Powers and raising the family kept Babe busy until retirement. His free time was spent fixing everything from automobiles to plumbing, and engineering and building solutions for the everyday problems of family and friends.
After Nancy passed away in 1993, Don decided to return to the Albin farm homestead, alternating his time between there and Cheyenne where he tinkered with projects and helped others. Eventually, he retired to Cheyenne to live out his life in the home he had built the many years before.
Don is survived by his children, Donald (Retta) Judy, Jr. of Albin; Debra (Steven) Schwartzkopf of Mesa, AZ; Daniel (Yvonne) Judy, Sr. of Cheyenne; David (Pixie) Judy of Cheyenne; and Diane (Terry) Rowland of Cheyenne. His legacy includes ten grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, and his loving niece and nephew Renée Judy-Thompson and Russell Judy.
Don was preceded in death by his wife, Nancy; his parents; his brothers, Wallace Judy, Robert Judy, and James Judy who died shortly after birth; his sister Verlene Moore; and his grandson Kelly Judy.
A memorial service will be held April 24, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. at the Wiederspahn-Radomsky Chapel, with an open viewing the day before. The interment and Navy, American Legion Honor Guard presentation will follow the service at Cheyenne Memorial Gardens. After the interment, there will be a reception for all family and friends at the American Legion Post 6 on East Lincolnway.