Judith Koch Ecker, an impassioned educator who dedicated her life to teaching others and sharing the beauty of the written word with her family, friends and students, died of natural causes on August 20, 2012, in Louisville, Ky. She was 78. Born in Louisville, Judy was a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, daughter and sister, who took great pleasure in reading, traveling and cheering on her favorite sports teams. Judy is survived by her long-time partner, Frank Boone, Louisville, Ky.; her three children, Dr. Wendy Martin, Treasure Island, Fla., Kerry Ecker (Mary Scannell), Tempe, Ariz., and Kjerstin Dillon (Paul), Orlando, Fla.; her mother, Helen Koch, Louisville, Ky.; her brother, David Koch (Karen), Louisville, Ky.; her six grandchildren, Ash Martin, Dr. Katie Kempf, Thomas Ecker, Rachel Ecker, Jackson Dillon and Lucy Dillon; great-grandchildren Ryan, Russell, Rachel and Sienna. She was preceded in death by her father, Edgar Koch and her son, Kevin Ecker. After growing up in Louisville and graduating from Atherton High School, Judy earned her bachelor’s degree from Western Kentucky State College in 1955 and her master’s degree from the University of Iowa in 1957. She inspired and built lifelong bonds with her students in Kentucky and Iowa. She retired in 1998 as the journalism instructor, advisor to the award-winning Surveyor newspaper and cheerleading coach at Washington High School in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Judy returned to her hometown of Louisville in 2001. The funeral will take place at Highlands Funeral Home, 3331 Taylorsville Rd., Louisville, Ky. at 11 a.m., Saturday, August 25. Visitation will be on Friday, August 24, from 5 to 8 p.m. and Saturday before the funeral service. Burial will be held at Cave Hill Cemetery.

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