Judith Ann “Judy” Bookwalter, 80, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family on September 12, 2026.

Born February 28, 1946, in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, Judy was the daughter of the late Marlin M. Warner and Dolly C. Smith.

Judy was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 16 years, Richard D. Bookwalter; her son, Daniel G. Peterson; her granddaughter, Taryn A. Peterson; and her siblings, Gary A. Warner, Joseph B. Warner, Patricia L. (Warner) Kuntz, and Johnny T. George. She is survived by her sisters, Ruth (Love) Bikle and Susan (Love) Hiltner.

Above all else, Judy loved her family. She is also survived by her children, Dawna Ohrwall, Andy and Emily Peterson, and Diana Bates; her grandchildren, Rachel and Addam Woolf, Nicholas Costabile, Keifer and Gabby (Kale) Benner, and Bryanna and Evan Schoffstall; her great-grandchildren, Oliver, Owen, and Eva Woolf, and Sienna and June Schoffstall; as well as many cherished nieces and nephews who held a special place in her heart.

Some of the memories her children will treasure most are also the simplest: listening to Pink Floyd with Dawna, going to fairs with Andy and Emily, and shopping sprees with Diana. They were moments filled with laughter, fun, and the kind of love that turns ordinary days into memories that last a lifetime.

Judy worked as a Data Analyst for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Office of Administration, Bureau of Infrastructure & Operations, dedicating 26 years of service before retiring on September 17, 2004.

Retirement gave Judy the opportunity to enjoy life at a different pace. She especially treasured her years living along the Broadkill River in Delaware. She loved the beach and trips to Rehoboth, particularly visits to Funland. She could spend hours playing the arcade games, but one of the things that brought her the greatest pleasure was giving her winning tickets and prizes to children. Seeing their excitement was better than keeping any prize for herself.

When Judy eventually returned home to Harrisburg, she found new little joys close to home, including feeding the deer and raccoons that visited her. She had a lifelong love of animals and especially adored her cats.

Judy loved to dance, curl up with a Hallmark Christmas movie, and lose herself in a good book—particularly one written by her favorite author, Dale Mayer. She also had a passion for genealogy. She spent countless hours researching family history, tracing generations, discovering relatives, and preserving the stories of those who came before her. For someone whose family meant so much to her, genealogy was more than a hobby; it was another way of keeping family close.

Judy’s life was made up of the things she loved most: her family, animals, music and dancing, books, the beach, Christmas movies, and the simple pleasure of making someone else smile.

Her family will remember her in countless little moments—in the opening notes of Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd, the excitement of a fair, shopping trips where money did not matter, the sound of an arcade at the beach, a deer appearing in the yard, a favorite book, or a Hallmark Christmas movie playing during the holidays.

Those moments are where Judy’s story will continue.

Judy spent countless hours discovering the stories of those who came before her. Now her own story becomes part of the family history she worked so lovingly to preserve—a story that her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews will carry forward.

And while those who loved Judy would have chosen more time with her, they are grateful for all the ordinary days that, looking back now, turned out to be anything but ordinary.

A Funeral Service will take place at 11:00 AM on Friday, September 18, 2026 at Wiedeman Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 357 S Harrisburg St, Oberlin, PA 17113. Burial will follow at Letort Cemetery in Carlisle, PA. A Viewing will be held in the funeral home prior to service from 10:00 AM-11:00 AM.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at www.stjude.org