Judy Bontrager

Judy Bontrager, 79, of Plantation, FL, passed into the presence of her loving Savior on March 13, 2019, in Cocoa, Florida surrounded by her loving family.  Judy was born in Youngstown, Ohio and attended college at Taylor University in Upland, Indiana.  While there she met Gordon DeWayne Bontrager.  They married on August 20, 1960.   Judy graduated from Taylor University with a degree in Early Childhood Education in 1961 – the first married woman to graduate from Taylor.

In 1961, they moved to New York where DeWayne worked at First Presbyterian Church of Flushing and attended New York Theological Seminary.  Judy taught school in New Rochelle and helped support DeWayne while he attended Seminary where he received his Bachelor of Divinity degree in 1964.  From there, Judy and DeWayne moved to Kokomo Indiana, where DeWayne served as assistant minister of St Luke Evangelical United Brethren Church. While in Kokomo, Mark was born. 

In 1965, DeWayne was ordained into the United Methodist Church and moved to Maple Lane United Methodist Church in South Bend, Indiana, where he served as senior pastor.  While in South Bend, Todd was born in 1966. 

In 1969, DeWayne was called to New York and served as an assistant pastor at Fort Washington Collegiate Church in Washington Heights, New York.  They moved their small family to Leonia, New Jersey and DeWayne served there from 1969 to late 1973.  While there, Amy was born and the Bontrager family was complete. 

The family moved to Florida in December 1973 where DeWayne served as minister of the Plantation Community Church until 1984.  Judy started and ran a preschool at the Church for many years. 

In 1982, Judy received her Master of Science degree in Education from Nova Southeastern University.  In 1985, Judy began a 22-year long career at Banyan Elementary school teaching many different early elementary grades.  She celebrated her retirement from Banyan in 2007 and focused her energies on her husband, children and grandchildren.

A lifelong commitment to education, Judy was active in the American Association for University Women.  She also loved orchids and was a loyal Orchid Society member.   

Judy was predeceased by her loving husband of 57 years, Dr. G. DeWayne Bontrager.  She is survived by her children: Mark (wife Julie), Todd, and Amy and grandchildren: Joshua, Daniel, Timothy, and Benjamin.  A lifelong teacher of children, wonderful friend, and a kind and encouraging woman, Judy will be missed and remembered by all who knew her.  Viewing will be at 9:30 am March 19, 2019 at Our Savior Lutheran Church, 8001 NW 5th Street followed by the Celebration of Life service at 10:00 am.