Judith Lynn Wherritt

Judith Lynn Wherritt, 65, died Saturday, September 2, 2023. She was born on June 1, 1958, in New Orleans, LA, where her parents had met and fell in love. When she was a young child, she, her parents and beloved younger sister moved to Wichita for her father’s professorship at Wichita State University. Judy, as she was known to everyone, was an accomplished flutist from childhood on. She was 9 years old when she played at Carnegie Hall as part of a group of children. She was First Chair Flute in the Wichita Youth Symphony Orchestra and the High School Orchestra, was Principle Flute in the All-City Orchestra, and played in the WSU Symphonic Band. Judy continued to play the flute throughout her adult life. Judy graduated from Wichita Heights High School in 1976 where she was an honor student. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Wichita State University in 1981 with a Bachelor of Music. She was awarded a Master of Science in Mathematics in 1986 from New Mexico State University. Judy was proud of her degrees and her membership in Mensa, an organization for those with IQs in the top 2% of the population. She spent several good years of her life living in Las Cruces, New Mexico. There she was briefly married to Joseph Vinson. She was at the height of her career working at White Sands Missile Range as a mathematician. In 2006, Judy was diagnosed with Meniere’s disease, a crippling illness involving extra fluid in the ears which caused her to be extremely sensitive to noise and for which she received disability benefits after being no longer able to work. As a result, she moved back to Wichita to be closer to family. In 2019, upon her mother’s death, she inherited her childhood home in Wichita. Judy was a past member of First Unitarian Universalist Church of Wichita and enjoyed leading some of its small groups. Judy could be very kind. She was especially thoughtful to friends who were going through a rough patch and called on the telephone or sent greeting cards. She liked exploring new things and places with friends from visiting the Sedgwick County Historical Museum to chasing down barn quilts on the back roads of the Sunflower State. In late June of her final year, Judy visited her primary care physician who sent her to Wesley Hospital. There, a scan detected three brain tumors and she had surgery on July 2nd to remove the largest tumor. She was diagnosed with glioblastoma, the most aggressive of brain cancers and which is always fatal. Judy passed away at home on early September 2nd with family and friends near. Since Judy’s mother came from an Orthodox Jewish background, members from that side of the family arranged Judy’s burial in their tradition. She was given a green burial at Maple Grove Cemetery on September 6th, in a manner that was in harmony with her love of the earth. Judith Lynn Wherritt was preceded in death by her parents, Robert C. Wherritt and Thelma Mildred (Lahasky) Wherritt; sister, Susan W. (Wherritt) Sherman. Survived by many Lahasky and Wherritt cousins, and friends. A memorial service will be held Sunday, November 12, 2023, at 4:00 p.m. at First Unitarian Universalist Church, 7202 E. 21st Street N, Wichita, KS, 67206. A supper for family and friends will follow the service. Services in care of Downing & Lahey Mortuary - East Chapel.