Walter Stephen Judd, age 74, died January 4, 2026, in Regions Hospital in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Walt was born on April 14,1951 in Fairbanks, Alaska to Herbert E. Judd and Joan B. Judd (nee Etienne), where Herb was stationed and served at the Eielson Air Force Base. His school days began at New Lothrop Elementary School and he later attended Corunna Junior High and Corunna High School. He graduated Valedictorian of his class in 1969. During his years in the rural Juddville area he developed his lifelong love of nature and his unending curiosity of the world around him, leading to his habit of gathering, displaying, drawing and recording his expanding world.
Those that knew him in his youth will remember his insect and rock collections, along with his pressed leaves and weather charts. They will recall his generous spirit and humble nature, as he shared his excitement around his discoveries. As the oldest grandchild, Walter’s younger cousins and siblings gravitated around him during family gatherings pleading for him to spin another of his creative adventure stories featuring all of them. Walter focused on Botany, the branch of biology that deals with the study of plants while attending Michigan State University graduating first in his class with a bachelor of natural science degree in botany in 1973 and he received the Earnest Bessey Award for distinguished scholastic achievement.
Walter married Beverly J. Gray from Owosso on August 12,1972 in Owosso, Michigan. The newlyweds moved into married housing on the Michigan State University campus, where Walt continued his education. He earned his master’s degree from MSU in 1974. The couple then moved to Boston, Massachusetts where Walt attended Harvard University earning his doctorate in 1978, specializing in the systematics and evolution of flowering plants. The University of Florida offered him a teaching position and he and Bev settled in Gainesville, Florida, where Walter earned his professorship and together they raised three children. He instilled his passion for the living world in his three children and loved to spend time camping with them at Anastasia Island. There they would often spend weekends catching fish and chasing ghost crabs, while playing in the cold water of the Atlantic. Walter was an educator at heart. During his career teaching and researching for the University of Florida Walt also conducted fieldwork in the southeastern United States, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. He published or co-published hundreds of articles and papers, along with a textbook, while still prioritizing the education of the students in his classes. More information about the honors bestowed on Professor Judd during his 45 years at the University of Florida can be found on this Wikipedia page: https://enwikipedia.org>wiki>Walter_Stephen_Judd. He was best known for his Tropical Botany course which drew students from across the world and was held at Fairchild Tropical Gardens, as well as the Kampong in Miami, Florida. While living in Gainesville, Walter was a member of the Trinity United Methodist Church and was very active with their Sunday school programs. In addition, he was active and supported the Museum there.
After becoming a Professor Emeritus, Walt took on a project updating the plant data in the herbarium at the University of Florida. Afterwards he and his daughter, Cherith, moved to Saint Paul, Minnesota, to be close to his son’s family. There Walt began attending the St. Paul United Methodist Church. He continued researching and co-publishing articles with colleagues about new discoveries in his field of study. He volunteered for the herbarium at the university there, along with writing updates on his Plant Systematics: A Phylogenetic Approach Textbook and Flora of Middle Earth book, which he co-authored with his son, Graham.
Walt is survived by his three children: Reuben E. (Tyler) Judd, Graham A. (Danielle) Judd, and Cherith A. Judd, three grandchildren, Nolan, Elsie, and Finn Judd, his sister Renee Webster, brother Randy (Marsha) Judd, sister Aileen (Dave) Robertson, brother-in-laws Don F. Gray, Fred (Mary Jo) Gray, sister-in-laws Ann (Rob) Dickinson, Roberta (Rich) Hamlin, Carol Graysmith, Kathleen (Mirza) Beg; many nieces, nephews, an uncle, aunts, cousins and other loving family members. He was predeceased by his wife, Beverly, parents Herb and Joan Judd, nephew Scott Judd, and in-laws Don and Marie Gray.
A memorial service honoring Walter S. Judd was held at the St. Paul United Methodist Church on January 9, 2026. A celebration of his life is also planned later on April 1st at Trinity United Methodist in Gainesville, Florida. He will be remembered by family and friends with a graveside service this summer at Elmwood Cemetery in New Lothrop, Michigan near where he lived as a child.