Leah Patrice Rucker

A beloved wife, mother and grandmother, Leah was born in Phoenix, the fourth of five children of David and Kathryn Judson. She excelled in high school, achieving many honors, and competed as an archer on the national championship girls’ high school archery team. She attended the University of Arizona, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Nutrition and Dietetics, Magna Cum Laude.

During her freshman year at UA, she joined the Tri Delta Sorority, where she would find lifelong sisterhood and friendship. She became a “little sister” to the Sigma Chi fraternity, where she met her future husband, John. She and John married in 1982.

Leah went on to earn a Master of Adult Education degree from the University of Phoenix. She devoted her career to healthcare education. From her own experience of living with Type I Diabetes since the age of 12, she had a unique gift of connecting with and helping her patients navigate life with diabetes. She developed diabetes education programs for major healthcare companies.

She was blessed with motherhood to Daniel in 1987 and to Rachel in 1993. For most of her career, she chose to work part-time so that she could focus her energies on supporting her children. In retirement, she devoted much of her time to helping with five grandchildren. Leah loved to plan and host family events and celebrations. She loved photography, travel and graphic design, and created detailed photo books for family vacations, celebrations and histories. She also liked home décor and organization. We joked that her favorite possession was a label maker.

She was preceded in death by her father, David, and her mother, Kathryn. Leah was strong, like her father, who was a WWII combat veteran in the 82nd Airborne Division. She was giving and always grateful, like her mother, who was an elementary school teacher for 35 years. Leah was a brilliant light who touched many. She was beautiful, with a captivating smile. She was funny, smart, and generous. She loved life, she loved her family and friends, and she loved to laugh. Her time with us was cut short, but her life was full.

She is survived by John, her college sweetheart and devoted husband of 44 years, her son Daniel and his wife Michelle, her daughter Rachel and her husband Caleb, and by five beautiful grandchildren, William, Olivia, Claire, Owen and Emma. She is also survived by her siblings, Cindy, Debbie, Tom and Michelle.

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In lieu of flowers or gifts, please send donations in her honor to:

BreakthroughT1D.org.