Judith Jordan, the oldest of three girls, was born to Tony and Betty Kopus, of Traverse City, MI, on Aug. 21, 1938. She passed away on Friday, Sept. 23, 2022, at the age of 84.
Judith graduated from Traverse City Central High in 1956. In 1959, she moved to St. Joseph to take a job at the Michigan Employment Office. She met the love of her life, Ken “Pete” Jordan, of Hartford, on a blind date that same year and they were married in April of 1964. After marriage, they made their life in Hartford, where she worked in the office of Shafer Lake Fruit Company and then as a teller and bookkeeper at First National Bank.
In 1971, Judith was hired by Hartford Public Schools as a secretary. She spent most of her years as the secretary at Red Arrow Elementary School. She retired from the school system in 2001, after 30 years of service.
She was a voracious reader and amassed a large collection of books. She loved writing letters and corresponded with dozens of women across the country. These letters continued to flow back and forth until the end of her life. She moved to Maple Lake in 2017, when her health began to decline. In this last chapter of her life, she continued to read and to write letters. The facility eventually became her new home and the staff her new family.
Judith was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Carol Kopus; and her beloved husband of 49 years, Ken.
Judith is survived by her sister, Barbara (David) Jorgensen of Beavercreek, Ohio; sister-in-law, Betty Jordan of Dowagiac; brothers-in-law: Bill (Darlene) Jordan of Hartford, Tom (Lois) Jordan of Coloma, Larry Anchor of Hartford, and Larry Rinehart of Decatur; and many nieces and nephews.
The family will receive friends from 10 to 11 a.m., on Thursday, Sept. 29, at the Calvin Funeral Home, Hartford, where at 11 a.m., the service to honor Judith’s memory will commence. Pastor Lonnie Truelove will officiate. Judith will be laid to rest next to her husband in Maple Hill Cemetery, Hartford. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations in Judith’s name be made to either the Hartford United Methodist Church Food Pantry or a local animal shelter. Those wishing to leave memorial condolences for the family may do so at http://www.calvin-leonardfh.com.
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