Judith Krueger Hartman

Judith Anne Krueger Hartman went home to her Lord and Savior on February 28, 2026, in Williamsburg, Virginia, at age 92. She lived her life knowing that faith, love, and family are the things that matter and the things that endure.

Judy was born June 16, 1933 in Whittier, California, the daughter of William Frederick Krueger Jr. and Evelyn Johnson Krueger, and grew up in Bell, California. She graduated from Whittier College, and in the span of just three remarkable days in 1955, she celebrated her birthday, received her diploma, and married Gerald Allan Hartman, beginning her life as the wife of a Naval Aviator. Judy, with quiet strength and unfailing grace, was both mother and father to their three children when filling the void of Jerry’s absence during his multiple deployments to Vietnam. After retirement, Judy and Jerry moved from California to Virginia, drawn by their love of history and the visible change of seasons.

Judy’s faith in Jesus Christ was the bedrock of who she was. She became a devoted member of Christ Fellowship Church and served as a Stephen Ministries caregiver, walking alongside others in their hardest seasons with the same tender care as she had always given her own family. Over the years, she also gave of her time and talent, first as a volunteer at the San Diego Children’s Hospital, and later with the Yorktown Waterman’s Museum.

Judy was a woman of remarkable vitality, remaining active well into her nineties. She discovered running in her forties, always accompanied by her Dalmatian. She would do her sit ups, wall pushups, and dips on the side of the bathtub every day. She was recycling long before it became standard practice. Her interest in homeopathic remedies would invariably cause Jerry to roll his eyes and “accuse” her of “practicing medicine without a license”. She always had a strong interest in nutrition; however, she never saw a dessert that she didn’t like.

Judy was blessed with deep and lasting love. She was joined in marriage to three good men, each of whom adored her: Gerald Hartman, with whom she shared 50 cherished years; Roger Priest, who brought the companionship she needed for six years; and Otto Naumann, who brought her five more years of joy as well as a new extended family. She loved each of them deeply, and was grateful to God for having each of them in her life.

Judy’s great joy was her family, and she was the matriarch of a large one covering four generations. She is survived by her sister, Martha Wadnizak (Frank); her sons, Chris Hartman (Melanie), and Steven Hartman (Laurrie); daughter, Molly Knox (Chris); her grandchildren, Randy Hartman (Michelle), Matt Plummer (Amanda), Angie Lockard (Jonathan), Jennifer Eimers (Jon), Aaron Hartman, Stephanie Rojo (Anthony), Ryan Hartman (Ashley), Bryce Hartman, Jessie Rentfro (Jack), and Lexi Scavo (Taylor); and her great-grandchildren, Frank, Noah, Stevie, Luke, Dailyn, Emily, Annie, Owen, Dena, Taylor, Hayden, Judy, Pete, Caleb, Chip, Canaan, Hazy, and Levi.

A celebration of Judy’s life will be held at a later date. She would be pleased to know that memorial contributions in her honor were made to Samaritan’s Purse, an organization that shares her heart for serving others in the name of Jesus (https://www.samaritanspurse.org/).