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Light a Candle
Dr. Alma B Judd, born January 1, 1934, died July 18, 2018. Dr. Judd, a trained Dentist who practiced in Mesa for thirty years, was born and raised in Fredonia, Arizona by Warren Dart Judd and Olive Brooksby Judd. Alma attended Arizona State College for a year before serving a mission in Australia for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. During that year he met Alice Shumway from Woodruff, Arizona. After his return from his mission, he and Alice resumed their courting and fell in love. They were married in the Mesa, AZ temple for time and all eternity on December 28, 1957. While attending ASU, Alma and Alice began their family which eventually numbered 10 children. Following graduation from ASU Alma moved his family to Oregon to attend dental school. Alma received his DMD degree and served in the Arizona Public Health Service to make good on his commitments. In 1968 he moved his family of six children to Mesa and purchased a home in the Lehi neighborhood. He and Dr. John Crandall set up their dental practice across the street from Westwood High School in Mesa where many patients came to know and appreciate his generosity and compassion. He later relocated his dental practice to Brown Rd near Mountain View High School. Four more children were born to Alma and Alice in Mesa. After a prolonged illness, Alma’s beloved Alice died in 1997. In 1999 Alma met and fell in love with Connie Patten who had 7 children of her own. They were married on Jun 24, 1999, in the Mesa, AZ temple.
Alma’s life was focused on his family, church service, and scouting. He served as Bishop, Stake Patriarch, Scoutmaster for Troop 357, and held many other church callings. He and Connie served as senior missionaries in Sacramento, CA, and for many years in the Mesa Temple as ordinance workers. He was the recipient of Scouting’s highest honor, the Silver Beaver award.
When recently asked why he decided to become a dentist Alma replied, “I wanted to help people.” This exemplifies how he lived his life: in the service of others and in the service of God. (Mosiah 2:17)
Alma is survived by his devoted wife Connie of Gilbert, AZ, three brothers, Keith (Carol) of Fredonia, AZ, Tharon (Cathy) of Orem, UT, and Lawrence (Jan), of Yamhill, OR; ten children, Tami Prince (Spencer) of Kaysville, UT, Sara Dodd (Layne), of Mesa, AZ, Derek (Brenda), of San Tan Valley, AZ, Ardell (Lorelei), of Loveland, CO, Jared (Patricia), of Camas, WA, Jeni Judd of Gilbert, AZ, Justen (Joyce), of Mesa, AZ, Jonathan (Mindy), of Gilbert, AZ, Jeremy (Micah), of Mount Juliette, TN, and Alisa Ray (Danny) of Mesa, AZ. Surviving step-children include Melissa Wusich (Daren), of Chandler, AZ, Kristen (Greg) Suman, of Washington, UT, Aaron Patten (Latona), of Chandler, AZ, Jeremy Patten (Larne), of Gilbert, AZ, Caralee Thomas (Mike), of Gilbert, AZ, Morgan Finn (Ryan), of Mesa, AZ, Brittany Hibbing (Ben), of Mesa, AZ. In this blended family, Alma is also survived by 74 grandchildren and 31 great-grandchildren.
Services for Alma will include the following:
Viewing- Friday, July 27, 2018, 6-8 pm at Bunker’s Mortuary, 33 N. Centennial Way in Mesa, AZ 85201
Graveside Service/Interment - Saturday, July 28, 2018 9 am at the Mesa City Cemetery, 1212 N. Center St., Mesa, AZ 85201
Memorial Service- Saturday, July 28, 2018, 11:00 am at the Lehi Stake Center, 1430 N. Grand, Mesa, AZ 85201
In lieu of flowers please contribute to the humanitarian aid fund for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at https://www.ldsphilanthropies.org/humanitarian-services
