Judith Trautman Wright

     Judith Trautman Wright, 81 of Temecula, California, passed away peacefully in her home on October 22, 2022 with her daughters at her side, and after a long battle with Parkinson’s. She was preceded in death by her newborn daughter, Jennifer Ann, her husband, C. Gordon Wright, her parents, Mark and Annette Trautman, and brothers, Richard and James Trautman.

     Judy is survived by daughters Michelle Jansen (Kenneth) of Superior, Colorado, and Kristine Speckmann (Wayne) of Winchester, California. She is also survived by six Grandchildren — Peyton Speckmann of Seattle, WA, Alexander Bork of Superior, CO, Bryce Speckmann of Winchester, CA, Zachary Bork of Superior, CO, Sydney Speckmann of Winchester, CA, and Lorelei Bork of Superior, CO — and siblings Marilyn Spieles, Suzanne Wurst (Christian), Linda Harris (Charles), Lauren Trautman, Sheryl Trautman, Mark Trautman (Kathy) and David Trautman (Annette) all of Pennsylvania, sister Annette Wassell (Joe) of Alabama, and numerous nieces and nephews.

     Born on September 16, 1941 in Fountain Springs, PA, Judy graduated from the former Butler Township High School in 1958. She moved to Washington, DC in 1962 and began her career with the Central Intelligence Agency. She took time off of work to raise her children and returned to the CIA when her youngest daughter went to Kindergarten. Over the course of her career, she worked in the Offices of Finance, Logistics, and Information Technology and lived in Paris, France. 

     After returning from Paris, Judy, her husband, and daughters settled in Manassas, VA in 1971 and moved to Catharpin, VA in 1979. Judy moved to an Active Adult community in Gainesville, VA in 1998 and took much joy in being the party planner in her new community. In 2009, she moved to an Active Adult community in Aurora, CO to be closer to her daughter and Grandchildren where she promptly became a busy party planner there, too. In 2013 she could no longer live alone and split her time between Michelle’s home in Colorado and Kristine’s home in California. She moved into an assisted living community in Temecula, CA in 2017.

     As her tenure at the CIA was drawing to a close, Judy joked about wanting to be a CPA when she “grew up”. She took college courses for over 10 years while working full-time and was able to take a one year Fellowship to complete her Bachelor's degree in Individualized Studies in Information Systems Auditing, graduating from George Mason University in 1993. She passed the CPA exam in 1995. She retired from the CIA in 1997 and went to work in public accounting for several years after that.  

     Judy was a member of Manassas St. Thomas United Methodist Church in Manassas for 37 years and sang in the choir. She joined the Smoky Hill United Methodist Church in Aurora in 2009 and then beginning in 2013, attended Mountain View United Methodist Church in Boulder when in Colorado, and Temecula United Methodist Church when in California. 

     Spending time with her daughters and Grandchildren was one of Judy’s favorite things to do. She also enjoyed traveling around the world and when not traveling to visit her family, she was often in Europe. She gave up traveling only slightly before finally acknowledging that she could no longer live alone.

     Judy was like a sunflower — brightening up the space where she was and if she was outside, her face was pointed towards the sun. She was truly loved by every single person whose life she graced. She was a joy to laugh with, a joy to be in the company of, and a joy who will never be forgotten.

     Relatives and friends are invited to a Celebration of Life funeral service, November 12, 2022, at 11 AM, in the Christ Congregational Church, Broad Street, Fountain Springs, Ashland. Officiating will be Mr. John Kessler. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. Visitation in the church will begin at 10 AM until service.

     In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, Grand Central Station, P.O. Box 4777, New York, NY 10163.  Visit www.Fritzfuneralhome.com.   

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