Shirley Lantz Judge passed away on September 3, 2026, in the loving arms of her husband, LJ, surrounded by her sons, family, and friends.

Shirley Lantz Judge was born in Harriman, Tennessee, to Daniel David Lantz and Grace Lantz Whittenbarger on June 14, 1953. She attended Harriman High School, where she maintained a stellar academic record and graduated with honors in 1972. Shirley followed in her father’s footsteps by attending Tennessee Tech.

On March 26, 1973, she married her forever partner, Larry (LJ) Judge. In December 1973, Shirley gave birth WRWKHLUUVWVR-HUHP6KDH7KDWVDPHPRWK/- joined the U.S. Navy and received orders to Pensacola, Florida. In April 1979, they welcomed their second son, Daniel Wade.

Shirley spent many years as a proud Navy wife, mom, and working professional. Even moving 18 times with LJ was apparently not enough change for her. She was known for rearranging the furniture on a Saturday just to switch things up. She was happy settling in with a JRRGERRNKLOH/-DGWKHERVVSHWWKHGDVKLJ She was also known for her funny turns of phrase and for laughing at all of LJ’s jokes. LJ was born in Winchester, TN. He retired as the Vice Commander of Arnold AFB and Shirley retired as a government employee in 2005.

In 1989, Shirley achieved her dream of earning a college degree from the University of Maryland (Go Terps!). Some of her favorite memories were the time she spent with her mom, including trips to Alaska and watching Braves games together.

Shirley was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 1995. For more than three decades, she met the challenges of MS with remarkable strength, determination, and the support of the family she loved.

Shirley will be remembered for her humor, her stubbornness, her love of Vietnamese food, and the unmistakable personality she brought to her family’s lives. She loved deeply, laughed often, and was never afraid to do things her own way.

She is survived by her husband of 53 years, LJ Judge; her children, Jeremy Judge and Daniel Judge (Megan); brother Daniel David Lantz Jr; sisters Kathy Lantz Taylor and Alice Lantz Sprouse. She is preceded in death by her father Daniel David Lantz; mother Grace Lantz Whittenbarger; sister Lora Grace Clement; brother Vernon Leroy Lantz; grandmother Tina Lee Whaley Thompson; and great grandmother Amanda Almeda 0F3KDLO:KDOH,OLHRIRHUVWKHIDPLOUHTHVWV donations to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.