Judy Ann Johnston Van Dinter

Heaven gained an angel on January 7, 2024, when Judy Ann Van Dinter left this earth to be with our Lord.  Judy was born and raised in Buffalo, New York, leaving home at 18 years old to join the Army where she met the love of her life, Thomas G. Van Dinter Sr.  They were married on July 19, 1965, in Arlington, Virginia and moved to Heidelberg, Germany shortly thereafter where they had their first child, a daughter.  Tom was later stationed at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas where their first son was born and then again after he served in Vietnam where they had two more sons, twins.

Judy loved children and no baby was a stranger to her, engaging with all of them wherever she went – the grocery store, restaurant, shopping mall, park - you name it.  She stayed home with her four (4) children when they were young, while watching additional children in her home.  It was a handful, but she loved it.  She had eight (8) grandchildren and (2) great grandchildren and delighted in each one, having sleepovers, taking them to the movies, swimming and even riding roller coasters with them at theme parks.  She was the best grandmother ever!  You see, Judy was a big child at heart.  She loved toys, dolls, and games, later working at a family-owned toy store where she started collecting Madame Alexander dolls.  In addition to loving children, she loved dogs, owning several throughout her life – several dachshunds, a jack russell terrier, and her most recent rescue from Operation Kindness – Petunia, a chihuahua mix.

Judy and Tom moved to Plano, Texas in 1988 to be close to her daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren.  She went to work for American Airlines as a reservationist in 1995 where she later retired.  She loved the travel perks and the exploratory trips she went on to Peru, Ireland, and Turks and Caicos.

If you knew Judy, you loved Judy and Judy loved all people.  She had a heart of gold.  She grieved for those that were experiencing an illness, a loss, or setback in life and although she didn’t have much to give, she always gave freely to those in need.

Judy is preceded in death by her parents Robert Johnston and Margaret Galvin Johnston, son, Scott Thomas Van Dinter, and her husband of 50 years, Thomas G. Van Dinter, Sr.  She is survived by her brother, Billy Johnston, her daughter, Debbie Harrison and son-in-law Gordon and their three children – Heather Weir and her husband Justin and their two children Wesley and Ellis; Craig Harrison, and Alexa Harrison as well as Judy’s twin sons - Thomas G. Van Dinter Jr. and daughter-in-law, Christina, and their three children – Andrew, Grace, and Ava and his twin brother - Steven P. Van Dinter and his two children – Scott and Lauren.

There will be a memorial service to celebrate Judy’s life at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, January 13, 2024, at Christ United Methodist Church, 3101 Coit Road, Plano, Texas with Rev. Mike Flynn officiating.  If you wish to join the service via webcast, please visit: https://vimeo.com/event/4011528

In lieu of flowers, we ask that you donate to the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation at https://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/ in memory of Judy.