Judith Ann Blair Fry, 1939-2023

Judith Ann Blair Fry of Garrettsville, Ohio (formerly of Franklin, Pennsylvania) passed away on Saturday, July 8, 2023 at her daughter’s home where she has resided for the past several years.

Born in Franklin, Pennsylvania on November 8, 1939, she was the daughter of the late Donald Burnett Blair and Ruth Helen Kiskadden Blair.

She graduated from Franklin High School in 1957 and on May 16, 1958 she married Francis William Fry, who preceded her in death on May 15, 2016. They resided in Franklin for most of their lives and raised three children.

Judy was an accomplished artist and homemaker. She enjoyed painting, refinishing furniture, gardening and was a wonderful cook. She also loved to can the fruits of her labor and filled shelf upon shelf every summer of her home-canned pickles and tomato sauce.

She volunteered for several organizations including the Literacy Council of Venango and the Venango County Humane Society. Judy enjoyed helping with costumes for the Franklin Civic Operetta at the Barrow-Civic Theatre. She also worked at Franklin Animal Clinic and was a freelance journalist for various newspapers, mostly The Youngstown Vindicator.

Also known as “Wife Judy”, she was an integral part of the award-winning Frying Pan Barbecue Team with her husband, Fran who was a retired food and travel writer. They won many awards in the Kansas City Barbecue Circuit, not only for their smoked meats and sauces, but also for Judy’s desserts and side dishes.

Eventually they became snow birds and resided in Lake Wales, Florida for part of the year.

Surviving are three children: Marjorie Marie Fry of Cleveland, OH, Patricia Fry Hodson of Garrettsville, OH and Christopher John Fry of Franklin, PA, as well as her sister, Donna Blair Patterson of Spartansburg, PA and four grandchildren: Linnea Annika Fry Nordstrȍm of Tromsø, Norway, Claire Judith Hodson of Saint Paul, MN, Sarah Katherine Hodson of Columbus, OH and Emily Elizabeth Fry of Edinboro, PA, a great-granddaughter, Verdandi Nordstrȍm Perabo of Tromsø, Norway, a nephew, Don Bish of Los Angeles, CA and preceding, her late niece, Stefani Lyn Bish (7/27/02).

There will be no visitation. There will be a graveside service at a later date at Saint Patrick’s Cemetery in Franklin.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Huff-Guthrie Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 312 West Park Street, Franklin, PA. Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting http://www.HuffGuthrie.com.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her honor to an organization that was dear to her heart at HiramFarm.org or Hiram Farm Living and Learning Community, PO Box 157, Hiram, OH 44234.