Judith Kay Engle Bennington was born in Minneapolis, MN to Walter S. Engle and Dorothy E. Gabel Engle on November 12, 1943. Judith went to be with her Heavenly Father August 14, 2023.
She attended school in Minneapolis graduating from Patrick Henry High School in 1961 and attended Business School at the University of Minnesota. She worked for Standard Oil as a credit agent in the marketing regional office.
In 1966, she married John Hodson and later moved to Overland Park, KS where she managed a large apartment complex. In 1972, John and Judy adopted their daughter, Kimberly Kay.
She divorced John in 1975 due to alcoholism. A single Mom, Judy raised her daughter, worked full time and did volunteer work.
In 1976, she met Larry Bennington and the two were married in 1977. They moved their blended family, Judy’s daughter Kim, Larry’s son David, (Larry’s daughter Diana was in college) to Wheaton, IL for Larry’s position in Chicago with Amoco.
She relished being a stay-at-home Mom for Kim and David and being a PTA volunteer, Girl Scout leader, a PEO officer and being involved in many church programs.
In 1985, the family moved to Arlington, TX for Larry’s job as pipeline Division Manager and they remained there until 1988 when they moved back to Winfield, IL for another pipeline job in Chicago. In 1993, Larry retired early from Amoco and started Milepost Consulting with Judy as the VP and they moved to back to Mansfield, TX, building a new home and getting involved in their church, PEO, Meal on Wheels, running the Walnut Creek Estates HOA and taking care of her mother Dorothy. Judy and Larry later moved to Ladera Mansfield Reserve and became involved with a wonderful community of caring and dear friends.
She was a devoted Christian and a compassionate and loving friend who earned the respect and admiration of all she knew. She will be greatly missed, but she left this world a better place.
She leaves behind her loving husband and soul mate, Larry, daughter Kimberly Rodely of Mount Vernon, IL, stepchildren David Bennington of Richardson, TX and Diana Thurlow of Basehor, KS, grandchildren Christopher Rodely of Mount Vernon and Samantha Bennington of Richardson, sister Jacqualine Masters of Surprise, AZ, and nieces Debra DiToro, Julie Phillips, Lori Norton and Lisa Ciccolelli and many loving friends. A Celebration of Life Ceremony will be held at a later date at Crossroads Christian Church in Grand Prairie, TX.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests any memorials be sent to PEO Chapter IU, in care of Narni McCahan, 825 Runnymede Road, Keller, TX 76248.