Judith A Aikman

Judith “Judy” Alyce Aikman of Greencastle, Indiana, passed away Friday, June 5, 2026 surrounded by family. Born on April 25, 1935, in Chicago, Illinois, she devoted her life to education, social work, and community health, leaving a legacy of compassion and dedicated service to children and families across Putnam County and beyond.

A graduate of Community High School in Blue Island, Illinois, and DePauw University, Judy also completed graduate studies in early childhood and special education at Indiana University and Indiana State University. Her academic work supported a career grounded in advocacy, individualized care, and the belief that every child deserves opportunity and support.

Throughout her career, Judy worked in local schools, and community organizations serving as an itinerant counseling and Head Start teacher, and a center coordinator with the Morgan Clay Owen Putnam Head Start Program. Her work focused on meeting each child’s unique learning needs and strengthening families.

Judy also made contributions to community health. As cofounder and executive director of the Putnam County Health Services Clinic, she helped expand preventive healthcare, dental services, family planning, and education for low-income families. Her leadership included program development, volunteer coordination, and support for families navigating essential services. In 1999, she was named Educator of the Year by the Mental Health Association in Putnam County.

Judy loved exploring the world, traveling to places like China, Spain, and Africa. Her curiosity and appreciation for other cultures and ways of life were deeply held values. Her openness, excitement and courage in exploring other faraway places was not only personally satisfying but inspiring to those around her. She cherished the time she spent with friends, especially her beloved Wednesday women’s lunch group. She found joy in gardening, horseback riding, and, above all, in the deep and meaningful relationships she shared with her grandchildren.

She found great wonder and joy in the natural world around her. As an avid birder, she could identify countless species by sight and song. She hiked hundreds of miles with fellow birders. Whether walking woodland trails or watching birds at her feeders, outside her kitchen window, she had a deep appreciation for the beauty of the outdoors and the creatures that lived there. Her love for the environment was a way of life for her. She found peace and satisfaction in the changing of the seasons, the beautiful flower gardens she created, her plants that attracted caterpillars that became stunning butterflies of all varieties, and the wildness and stillness of the DePauw Nature Park.

Because of Judy’s fervor and commitment to the care and wellbeing of people and the environment, she relished lively discussions and debates about the preservation of the planet and people on it. She sought out others who shared these same ideals. She loved sharing ideas, debating current events and exploring the values that guided their lives. These discussions reflected the hope she had for a good future for her grandchildren and great grandchildren and well as for all others.

Judy was preceded in death by her former husband, Pat Aikman; her parents, Vincent and Evelyn Folk; siblings Bob Folk and Jean Folk Walstrom; and nephew Darian Walstrom. She is survived by her children Kevin, Cindy, Kerry (Ron), and Kurt; grandchildren Emily (Blake) Grant (Ali), Chloe (Lucas), Henry, Emma, and Michael; and great-grandchildren Adelynn, Parker, and Brody.

Judy’s warmth, strength, and deep compassion will be deeply missed by her family, friends, and all who were fortunate enough to know her. The impact of her dedication lives on in her grandchildren, the children she taught, the families she supported, and the community.

A private interment service will be held at Forest Hill Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Putnam County Museum in Greencastle.