GIBSON CITY - Judith W. Nelson, 102, of Gibson City died Wednesday evening (July 1, 2009) at Gibson Area Hospital Annex, where she had been a resident for the past eight years.

A celebration of her life will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at First Presbyterian Church, Gibson City, with the Rev. John Oerter officiating. Inurnment will be at Drummer Township Cemetery. Visitation will be at 1 p.m. Sunday until time of service. Cremation rites were accorded by Clancy-Gernon Funeral Home, Bourbonnais. Memorial gifts may be given to her church or to Gibson Area Hospital Annex.

Mrs. Nelson was born Feb. 19, 1907, in Falmouth, Ky., daughter of Ferdie and Molly Thornberry Wright. She came to Gibson City at the age of 2. She married Claude P. Nelson on Feb. 2, 1929. He died Oct. 20, 1962.

They had no children, but "Aunt Judy" took a special interest in her nieces and nephews and was always there for them.

Surviving are four nieces, Valeria Hunt and Janet (Don) Jensen, Gibson City; Donna Dionne, Bradley; and Jo Hanna (Lee) Merritt, Towanda; numerous great- and great-great-nieces and -nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, two brothers, a sister and two nephews.

In her earlier years, she assisted in her mother's restaurants in Gibson City. After her husband's death, she worked at Gibson City IGA, where she was manager of the bakery. She retired from there in 1972 at the age of 65 and then worked for a short time at Colonial Cleaners.

In 1974, she began her employment at Gibson Area Hospital, where she worked in the dining room. At the age of 80 in 1987, she decided to really retire and gave up her work at the hospital. She then took up walking for exercise, walking two miles each morning and afternoon until she was in her late 80s.

Mrs. Nelson was the oldest living member of First Presbyterian Church, Gibson City, having joined on March 26, 1921.

She was a past member of Drummer Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star, and had served as Worthy Matron.