Judith "Judy" Ann Irwin, 83, of Springfield, MO, died on October 6, 2021 at her home. Judy was born December 29, 1937 and raised in Springfield, MO as the only child to Charles Joseph "Joe" Irwin and Mary Margaret Murray Irwin. She completed grades 1-12 at Greenwood Laboratory School (Class of 1955) and Missouri State University (MSU) for her teaching undergraduate degree and guidance and counseling master's degree.

Judy's family always prioritized education. She recalled them talking about "when" she would graduate, not "if." It seemed obvious that she would choose a career as an educator and put the degrees she earned at MSU to good use. Judy spent 35 years working for the Springfield Public School District – 10 years as a teacher and 25 years as a counselor and psychological examiner. Since she began teaching in 1959, her education career has included everything from helping at-risk children to testing and identifying gifted students. She once said that everything she learned about being equipped to be a teacher and counselor, she learned at MSU.

Her belief in the power of education and love for MSU led her to make numerous estate gifts to the University. She said that these gifts enabled her to make a difference in the lives of students. She said that she knew what a difference education can make in their lives and wanted to help them. She also made gifts to the Springfield Public School System.

Judy's fondest memories of her time at Greenwood and MSU are the relationships she formed. Many of her Greenwood classmates, college friends and Alpha Delta Pi sorority sisters turned into lifelong friends. She was also a member of Delta Kappa Gamma, a society of Women educators.

In her spare time she enjoyed playing duplicate bridge and was an avid supporter of the MSU men's and women's Bears sport teams. She was also a huge fan of the St. Louis Cardinals.

She was preceded in death by her parents. Judy is survived by her cousin, John Murray (Joanne) of Reston, VA; Sara Tamburrino (Tim) of Rolla, MO; Mark Campbell (Terry) of Spring Hill, TN, as well as other distant cousins and many friends from her lifetime living in Springfield.

There will be a graveside service conducted by Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home on November 13, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. at Eastlawn Cemetery, 2244 E. Pythian Street in Springfield.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Lupus Foundation of America, Heartland Chapter, 8050 Watson Road, Suite 169, St. Louis, MO 63119.  Phone number – 800-958-7876.   The Heartland Chapter covers Missouri, Southern Illinois and Eastern Kansas.

Donations can also be made to the Scleroderma Foundation, Missouri Chapter, Chapter Contact: Rhonda Costa, P.O. Box 1216, Ballwin, MO  63022.  Phone number 636-527-3599    or a charity of your choice in Judy's name.