• Email a friend
• Create a page like this
• Click here to bookmark this page

Judith Frances Falkenrath, a citizen of the world who dedicated her life to helping children and loved both music and the church, passed away in Warrenton, Va. on February 24, 2019, surrounded by family members. She was 78.

Born September 11, 1940 in Morgantown, West Virginia to Maj. Gen. Charles C. Case and Mary Frances Case, Judy's life experiences as a U.S. Army daughter and later an Army wife took her around the world, including Canada, France, Germany, Japan, and Korea.

After graduating from Washington-Lee High School in Arlington, Virginia, she attended William & Mary, earning a degree in History in 1962, and a place in the Delta Delta Delta sorority along the way.

She then began a career serving others, primarily the children of her community. Her passion for child care/education began with an assistant child care job at Shady Grove Nursery School in Arlington--her first of several roles at numerous preschools.

In 1986, she joined the Fairfax County Office for Children, serving as Early Childhood Specialist for Community Education as well as Education Coordinator for Fairfax County Head Start.

In 1998, Judy joined Christian Community for Action (ACCA) in Annandale, Virginia, serving as Director. Upon her retirement in 2010, long-time U.S. Representative Gerald Connolly (D-Va., 11th District) recognized Judy on the House of Representatives floor, citing her "leadership and dedication in providing quality preschool education and in furthering the goals of ACCA in reaching out to the poor and disadvantaged in our community."

After leaving ACCA, she continued to serve children as a member of Fairfax County's Child Care Advisory Council.

A lifelong devotee of learning, she returned to university studies to earn a Master of Education--Elementary Education from the University of Hawaii in 1983, and a Doctor of Philosophy--Education with a focus on Early Childhood Education from the University of Virginia in 1991.

Judy also was deeply involved in music, dating back to her days in the William & Mary choir. The choir both traveled regularly and was a fixture at the famous Chowning's Tavern in Colonial Williamsburg.

A devout Episcopalian, Judy always lent her voice to her church's choir, with her most recent participation being at St. Barnabas' Episcopal Church in Annandale.

If Judy had a greater passion than serving others, music, and church, it was her grandchildren. Paul James Winner, Brisan Matthew Winner, Jamisan Leigh Winner, Marie Finnell Falkenrath, and Case Finnell Falkenrath shared space in Judy's heart as the most important people in her life from the moment each were born.

Judy was a member of the League of Fairfax Women Voters, serving in several key roles, including chair of the Justice Committee.