Judith Osgood Giddings passed away on the morning of September 25, 2024. Born on October 14, 1943, a native of Wellsboro, PA, she was the daughter of the late Edmund W. and Margaret (Bailey) Osgood.
Judith earned her BA in French, and her Masters (Mansfield U.) and PhD (Penn State University) in Special Education. In 1990 Judith joined the faculty of Purdue University Calumet in Hammond, Indiana, and served with distinction as professor of Special Education, and active faculty leader on many university and Education Department committees including the Campus Reorganization Committee.
While a member of the Education Department Judith met her future husband, Dr. William Giddings, Ed.D., professor of Counselor Education for 32 years as well as the Assistant to the Dean of Students for 15 years. Judith and Bill were married in June of 1996, continued to teach at Purdue for another decade, and then both retired at the end of the 2002 school year.
Upon retirement the couple moved to a beautiful mountain-side log cabin in Stony Fork, near Wellsboro. They loved their role as stewards to a number of local black bears, wild turkeys, and an assortment of other birds and critters. They once “hosted” as many as 88 deer in their front yard. Both Judith and Bill became award winning photographers and they were devoted care-givers over the years to a number of Alaskan Malamutes and Great Pyrenees rescue dogs. Judith was an accomplished and acclaimed dulcimer and piano player. She made a much loved CD and performed for many organizations and events.
Judith is survived by her loving husband, William Giddings of Julian, Pennsylvania, and her two sons: Andrew Smith of Phoenix, Arizona, and Eric Smith of Julian, Pennsylvania. She also leaves behind her brothers, Edmund Osgood (Carol) and Jeffrey Osgood (Kathy); her grandchildren, Zachary Smith, Brynn Smith, and Bennett Smith; and her great-grandson, Beau Smith.
In keeping with Judith’s wishes, a private family gathering will be held.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made in her name to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, www.michaeljfox.org