A much-beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend, Judy Weber Smathers, 82, of Arlington, VA, peaceably left this world to be full-time with Jesus on January 17, 2026, after a year-long battle with cancer. Born in Pittsburgh, PA, on October 15, 1943, she was the daughter of Orville and Anne Schultz Weber and was the youngest of their four daughters. 

Judy grew up in Randallstown, Maryland, and after graduating Milford Mill High School, where she was a National Merit Scholar, she earned a degree in Computer Science and Chemistry from Penn State. Judy started working as a laboratory chemist in Rochester, NY but that soon segued into being a full-time Christian worker with Young Life. Thus, what first had become a ministry to high school students, would later change into a personalized ministry with young professionals. That change of focus happened when Providence then moved her, against her will, to Washington D.C. where, in the late 1970s, a whole new spiritual ministry opened to her in her association with The National Prayer Breakfast. After a time at UNIVAC, Judy joined the staff of Senator Mark Hatfield, a moderate Republican of Oregon, as his scheduler. She also served as personal assistant to Mrs. Hatfield, who authored five cookbooks, as well as loved and cared for their children. The Senator later, in 1986, stood in for Judy’s long-deceased father at her marriage to John Smathers.

But back to the early 1980s, Judy served as hostess/manager of ‘The Cedars’ in Arlington, an entity of the National Prayer Breakfast. In 1985 she began to be courted by John Townley Smathers. They were married a year later and have since lived in Arlington with their daughter, Townley, and son, John Samuel.

Judy continued until the last two years of her life to be one of God’s ineffable shining lights. From hosting Bible studies to volunteering in numerous roles at her children’s schools, mentoring young moms, working for 10 years as a Cabi clothing consultant, and ministering through her ceaseless hospitality and renowned baked goods. She was especially known for her multi-tiered professional (and delicious) wedding cakes, sought by friends and local brides for over five decades. She was quite an unusual lady.

Judy is survived by her husband, John; her daughter Jennifer Townley, and husband Brad Davidson, and their children, Westley, Ainsley, and Miles; her son John Samuel; her sisters Linda Bosse and Patty Kuntz; numerous nieces and nephews; and countless friends. She was preceded in death by her parents and her eldest sister Barbra Hohman.

A Memorial Service will be held at 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, February 11, 2026, at The Falls Church Anglican, 

6567 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church, VA 22042.