Heaven is probably a bit louder and more boisterous because Judy Ann Hootman Struble left this world and traveled onward at 8:00 a.m. Thursday, April 30, 2026 at University Hospital Samaritan Medical Center in Ashland, Ohio. She loved big, proud and boldly but her kind and hard-working heart finally wore out. While she was very ill, she looked around her hospital room, saw all her loved ones gathered there and she whispered “My family is here…. and I love them all.”
Judy made her arrival in Ashland, Ohio on March 13, 1948 as the first-born child of the late former Mayor of Jeromesville Edwin Eugene Hootman and Alice Milligan Prater (who survives). She was raised by her father and step-mother (fondly known as “Mom”) Emma Etzwiler Hootman. Judy was the older sister to brother, Brad Kazebee (wife Ronda and their sons, Jerod of Medina and Jeremy of Ashland), sister, Pat Kazebee (Tom Eggers of Columbus, Ohio) and sister, Cindy Kanzig (husband Bob and their son, Todd of Jeromesville).
Judy is also survived by her older son, Kevin Eugene Hootman (Betty Gillespie) of Jeromesville and Kevin’s son, Kody (Carmen Burdett and her sons Leo and Niko of Olivesburg) and Judy’s younger son, Scott Allen Gray (Mickey Stephens) and Scott’s daughter, Erica Gray-Huffman, her husband Curtis and their baby daughter Anna Marie, who is five months old. Her dear long-time friend, Beverly “Bev” Martin, will also miss her greatly.
Judy married the true love of her life, Gene Struble, who passed away August 14, 2017. She loved him and nursed him all through his brain cancer diagnosis and she will be laid to rest beside him. May they again be together which is what she always wanted.
Hydromatic Pump Company employed Judy for several years but her dream job was being a Patient Liaison at Good Shepherd Health (Skilled Nursing) and Rehabilitation Center. She loved advocating for the patients, enjoyed her co-workers and respected her superiors. Judy joked many times that she was much older than her co-workers and was about the same age or older than her patients and that’s why she got along so well with them. She worked until her 78th birthday when she underwent heart surgery and her heart said no more. A truly kind and hard worker with a very loving heart!
When we remember Judy, we will remember that quick wit, happy smile, a “tell it like it is” attitude and perhaps a wisecrack or two. She was honest, quick to speak her mind and was always bright and sparkling. By the time you realized what she said, you knew she was right and was the only one in the room with enough courage to say what needed to be said. We were delighted that she was always the first person to say exactly what we all thought!
Visitation will be Thursday, May 7, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. at Heyl Funeral Home located at 227 Broad Street, in Ashland, Ohio. The funeral will begin at 11:00 a.m. with burial following immediately at Ashland County Memorial Park on US 250 in Ashland.
If you are so inclined, please feel free to make a donation in her name to the American Heart Association Ohio Office, 1313 West Dorothy Lane, Kettering, Ohio 45409.
Judy Struble was a happy gal, a matter-of-fact person, and just plain “saucy.” So many of us benefited from knowing her and loving her. Judy knew it was ok to be outspoken and straight forward…. as long as you said it with honesty, kindness and always accompanied with a smile! She truly made this world a much better place.
Funeral Home: Heyl Funeral Home
Website: www.heylfuneralhome.com