Judith Ellen Gobble

Judith Ellen (Sampson) Gobble, age 74, of Beavercreek, Ohio, passed away at Hospice of Dayton on May 6, 2025. She was born on October 1, 1950, in Dayton, Ohio, to the late James Richard and Ruth Pauline Sampson.

Alongside her parents Judith was preceded in death by her loving husband Bob Gobble, her stepdaughter, Cindy (Gobble) Back, and nephew, Jim Donaghy.

Judith is survived by her Sons, Carl Potts and Casey Potts; Stepdaughters; Judy Wilson (wife of Mark Wilson), and Mickey Scherer, Son-in-law; Travis Back; Daughter-in-law; Angela Kwan; Grandchildren; Natalie Potts, Allison Potts, Kristie Back McKiddy, Ryan Back, Matt Wilson, Rob Wilson, Kelly Bohnenstiehl, Carlie Garg, and Abby Scherer, Great-Grandchildren; Jack and Aubrey McKiddy, Nova and Reznor Back, Diego, James, and Anna Wilson, Brooks and Payton Bohnenstiehl, and Rowan Garg, Brother; Richard Sampson, Sister; Janis (Sampson) and Harry Donaghy, and Niece: Catherine “Cat” Donaghy.

Chapter 1: “Hey Jude – The Story of Little Miss Judy”

Judy grew up in Fairborn, Ohio, where she graduated from Fairborn High School in 1968. She was The President of “The Future Nurses Club,” though she would eventually switch her passion to the English language, creative writing (and raising a family!).

Chapter 2: “Judy, Walter, Car-Car, and Tater – The Rise of Bert and Ernie!”

In 1969, Judy married Walter Potts and in 1973 they welcomed their first son Carl Potts. Shortly after, in 1976, their son Casey Potts arrived (although someone tried to name them Bert & Ernie from Sesame Street). This family of 4 grew up in New Carlisle (Park Layne/Medway, OH) but soon moved to Fairborn, OH. By the way, “Bert” now works for J.P.L. (Jet Propulsion Lab in partnership with NASA in Pasadena, CA) and “Ernie” is a High School Spanish Teacher at Piqua High School in Piqua, OH.

Throughout her adult life, Judy enjoyed English, reading and writing, but especially creative writing. Under the guidance of a local area college professor, Ed Davis, Judy participated in a traveling writing group. They would often meet in coffee shops, outdoor parks, and picnic shelters all around Beavercreek and Yellow Springs, OH.

According to Professor Davis, Judy was “an extremely talented memoirist, she aspired to write fiction as well.” Judy became quite the memoirist, documenting her personal favorite childhood memories and favorite memories involving other family members (sometimes switching the names of the characters to hide their identities). Speaking of the art of the

written language, “Miss Judy” developed her own “secret” spoken language and colloquialisms as well. She was very funny. I am often reminded about her infectious sense of humor by everyone that knew her.

In addition to her passion for writing, Judy also loved traveling out west to the Grand Canyon, Scottsdale, AZ, Alhambra, CA, and New Orleans, LA. Traveling Judy especially LOVED flying out to Alhambra, CA to visit with Carl, Angela, Natalie, and Allison, and Grandma Judy’s twin Granddaughters!! She also loved riding donkeys down into the Grand Canyon with her” Adventure Co-Pilot”; Bob Gobble. Miss Judy referred to these animals and “Chunkeez”. Another Judy-ism that many people had to translate was when she told someone, “Let’s go to Jeffrey’s!” Well, this was a play on words referring to her favorite local Beavercreek Ice Cream Shop called, “Jet Freeze” (Get it? Jeffrey’s!”)

The avid traveler also worked a Quarter of a Century as a typist, keyboardist, receptionist, secretary, and office manager for several different WPAFB projects and departments including “System Engineering”.

Although she herself was a cousin, sister, daughter, and mother, perhaps her favorite role was that of “Grandmother”. Grandma Judy never forgot to send Christmas, Valentines, Easter, and Birthday cards to everyone! Judy could light up the darkest room with her smile (or her signature at the bottom of a greeting card).

It should come as no surprise that Miss Judy would fall in love, not once, but twice.

Chapter 3: “Judy in Gobble-Land – Meet the Gobbles!”

If you were driving behind Miss Judy as she traveled from her hair appointment to Be Hope Church in Beavercreek, OH you might recognize her license plate – J.A.B.G. Judy and Bob Gobble! Robert Gobble enters the story with his 3 daughters—Cindy, Judy, and Mickey. This is where Judy (Sampson) would become known as “Miss Judy”. With the exception Casey, or “Tater”, Carl, Cindy, Judy, and Mickey would all carry on to get married and have children (and eventually) some grandchildren of their own. Ladies and Gentlemen, friends and neighbors, meet “Miss Judy” (A.K.A “Grandma Judy”).

Miss Judy maintained her joyous and contagiously-positive outlook on life even during the steepest parts of her journey and mountain climb through Parkinson’s Disease. In the last several months of her life, Judy’s family and friends decided to reunite The Sampson Sisters one last time. Janis and Judy were practically “roommates”; at Trinity Skilled Nursing Facility in Fairborn, Ohio for Judy’s last Spring on this earth, back where the story of Little Miss Judy began.

Chapter 4: “Hey Jude! Hey Janis! – The Blabber-Heads Are Back, Baby!”

In the final months of her life, the Sampson sisters—Judy and Janis—were reunited one last time as near-roommates at Trinity Skilled Nursing Facility in Fairborn. It was a full-circle moment that felt like a final chapter well written. Their reunion nearly broke the internet: “Judy Gobble Got The Last Blab!”

“Miss Judy” will NOT be remembered for a disease (although she put up a heck of a fight.) Judy (Sampson) Gobble will be remembered for all of her delicious recipes created in “Judy’s Kitchen”; her potato salad, vegetable soup, cabbage rolls, chicken and rice casserole, and the scotch-er-roo chocolate “crack” bars. She will be remembered for her sunshine smile, hilarious sense of humor, and the love that she gave to oh so many.

Chapter Five: “Welcome to Heaven-Land, Miss Judy.”

A Visitation will be held Saturday, May 24, 2025, from 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM at Tobias Funeral Home, 3970 Dayton Xenia Road, Beavercreek, Ohio 45432. Followed by a funeral service at 11:30 AM. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Parkinson Research Foundation 5959 Cattleridge Blvd., Suite 100 Sarasota, FL 34232 or Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton ohioshospice.org/give