Judith L. Surles

Judith L. Surles

Judith Louise Stillson Surles, 64, of Stafford County passed away Easter Sunday, April 12, 2009, at home, surrounded by her loving family, after 22 years of survival with cancer.

Judith had retired from Stafford County Public Schools after teaching home economics to middle school students for 35 years. She graduated from the University of Hawaii with a bachelor's degree in education. Judith was involved with Grandma's House of Washington, D.C., as a volunteer contributing supplies for holiday celebrations and she also contributed to the NAMES project.

She was an inspiration to her family and many others for her survival with metastatic breast cancer.

Judy will always be remembered as a loving, caring, happy individual.

She is survived by her devoted husband of 41 years, Jerry Surles; and her four children, Philip Surles and his wife, Jennifer, Donna Rhody and her husband, Sandy, Michelle Wentz and her husband, Donald, and Chris Surles and his wife, Kelly; her grandchildren, Sabrina, James, Brandon, Kayla, Michael, Christopher Jr., Kylee, Isabella and Hailey; her brother, Thomas Stillson; her sisters, Priscilla Putnam and Diane McCormick; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her brothers Larry and Terry Stillson.

A funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, April 16, at Covenant Funeral Service, Fredericksburg, with the Rev. Ron Roach officiating. Burial will follow in Sunset Memorial Gardens.

Pallbearers will be Chris Surles, Anthony Surles, Theodore Surles, Joseph Monroe, James Monroe Jr., Chris Stubblefield, John Ennis and Donald Madison.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, April 15, at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, c/o Trudy Clifton, 113 Tallpines Ave., Locust Grove, Va. 22508.

Online guestbook at covenantfuneralservice.com.