This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: marcenath158 Surnames: Judd, Ogden, O'Neil, Wheeler Classification: obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.newmexico.counties.donaana/5358/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Edward Ogden Judd of Las Cruces, NM passed away on April 2, 2011. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, son, brother and friend. He was preceded in death by his parents Edward Nelson Judd Jr. and Marjorie Ogden Judd and his brother Robert Knapp Judd. Edward was born on November 6, 1930 and was raised in Manhattan, NY. He developed an early love for trains, sailing, skiing, games and science fiction. In all his 80 years, this passion continued to grow and he shared his knowledge with his family and friends. Ed graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1954, with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering. He then received his Masters of Science in Engineering at Purdue University in 1959. He served in the Army for 14 years, and was a veteran of the Vietnam War. After his duties overseas, he was stationed at White Sands Missile Range in 1966 and left military service in 1968. He fell in love with the New Mexico desert and decided to make it his permanent home. For the next 45 years, Ed kept busy raising a family, finishing his career as a Civil Service Test Conductor. He was extremely proud of his work on the Redeye, Stinger and Chapparal missile programs. In his free time, he was an avid Lionel train and horror memorabilia collector. Year after year, he and his wife Jean would travel to Key West, Florida, sailing around for weeks on the open waters. Train rides across the United States kept them adventurous and moving at the constant pace they always enjoyed. His passion for games culminated in a weekly "game club" he started nearly 20 years ago, where numerous people of all ages would meet and play board games for hours on end. He is survived by his loving wife of 25 years, Jean Judd. His children, Patrick O'Neil and wife Roberta; Michael O'Neil and wife Betty; Susan Judd Wheeler and husband James; Paul Judd and wife Nila; Peggy King; and Mack Wells. He had 9 Grandchildren: Patrick O'Neil Jr, Justin Cox, Lauren Cox, Sean O'Neil, Denny O'Neil, Sophia Judd, Andrew Judd, Bonny Wells, and Cassie Collister. He was also blessed to have Burt McClure and Susan Wells and a multitude of other friends, all of whom became his extended family. "Death is nothing at all. I have only slipped away into the next room. I am I and you are you. Whatever we were to each other, that we still are. Call me by my old familiar name, speak to me in the easy way which you always used. Put no difference in your tone, wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow. Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes we enjoyed together. Pray, smile, think of me, pray for me. Let my name be ever the household word that it always was, let it be spoken without effect, without the traces of a shadow on it. Life means all that it ever meant. It is the same as it ever was: there is unbroken continuity. Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight? I am waiting for you, for an interval, somewhere very near, just round the corner. All is well." - Henry Scott Holland. A memorial celebration of Ed's life will be held at a later date for close family members.The family asks in lieu of flowers that donations be made in his name to the American Cancer Society at www.cancer.org (under the "get involved" tab). To sign the guest book or to send condolences log on to www.lapaz-grahams.com Published in Las Cruces Sun-News on April 10, 2011 Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.