Judith Ann (Judy) Taminger

Marion, Va. 

Judith Ann (Judy) Taminger, age 82, passed away Tuesday, July 18, 2023.

Judy was born in Freeport, Il. in 1940 and raised in northwestern Illinois. She attended Northern Illinois University where she met and later married John Taminger in 1963.  After spending five years as an Air Force wife, including three years in Tokyo, Japan, they moved to Marion, Va. in 1968. Judy spent most of her life teaching and helping people.  She said it best as she wrote several years ago: ‘After growing up, I found myself really wanting to do something meaningful in my community. I taught for 16 years at the Blue Ridge Job Corps Center. It wasn’t until a valued co-worker died and I found out he could not read that I became very involved in adult literacy. I started as a literacy tutor and really learned the value of education. I then had the privilege to be the literacy coordinator for Smyth County (SCALE) for ten years. I feel tutoring is the essence of teaching. You can structure the program to your student and do it in a way that best fits his or her needs. I feel that I truly have received more than I have given in the battle for literacy.’ Judy was an active member at Ebenezer Lutheran Church for nearly 50 years. She volunteered as an usher, Sunday School teacher and superintendent, and served as the Education Chair and on church council. She loved taking her dog on walks through Hungry Mother State Park and was instrumental in starting the Friends of Hungry Mother State Park with her husband John.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Julius and Jennette Johnson.

Judy is survived by her husband John, sons Brian (Karen) and David (Debbie); grandsons Ben (Mia), Aaron (Evelyn), Andy (Caroline), Nate, Daniel; and brother Jack (Marilyn) Johnson.  

The family wishes to express our sincerest gratitude to the entire staff at Francis Marion Manor for the loving care they provided in her final year and a half of life.

The family will receive family and friends Tuesday, July 25, 2023 from 10 am until noon at Ebenezer Lutheran Church (222 West Main St., Marion, Va. 24354).  Funeral services will begin at noon with Pastor Kayla Keilholtz officiating. A reception of food and fellowship will follow in the church fellowship hall.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the “Judy Taminger Scholarship Fund” through the Smyth County Foundation (Mail check to the Smyth County Foundation, 1 Health Way, Marion, Va. 24354), or in her memory to Ebenezer Lutheran Church.

To share memories of Judith Ann (Judy) Taminger, please visit www.seaverbrown.com. Care for Judy has been entrusted to Fraziers’ Seaver Brown Funeral Service & Crematory, 237 East Main Street, Marion, Va. 24354.