Judith (Becker) Hamilton of Lyon Station died on Thursday March 16 in Reading, in the company of her three children. Judy, 84, was the first-born child of Harel Becker and Mary (Walton) Becker of Fleetwood, the town where she spent her childhood, formative years, and nearly all of her professional career as an educator. She was married to Richard "Puddy" Hamilton, with whom she raised three children and a noisy menagerie of dogs and cats (and occasional hamsters, fish, guinea pigs, and even chickens).

A graduate of Fleetwood High School and Kutztown State College, Judy was a sixth-grade Language Arts teacher at Fleetwood for a number of years before switching to teaching kindergarten for the remainder of her career. It was not uncommon for an incoming class of kindergarteners to have a few students whose parents were Judy's sixth-grade students two decades earlier. Her children can attest to the fact that even into her seventies, it was not a surprise to hear "Mrs. Hamilton! Mrs. Hamilton! Do you remember me?" from adults excited to see their first, often favorite, teacher from their childhood.

In addition to a handful of fellow teachers she maintained friendships with her entire life, Judy's social circle also included a lifelong group of fellow Fleetwood High women who met socially at one another's homes every month or so to reminisce, gossip, and show off new party foods and desserts. "The Girls" still meet, although no one is quite sure why they were also called "The Card Club," since their families can attest to the fact that cards were never played at these get-togethers.

Judy was a lifelong collector of antiques, and was an early admirer and collector of what we now refer to as "primitives," but at the time was overlooked as worthy of acquiring. Her love of the handmade naturally led to her pursuing, and becoming quite adept at, needlework. Her family's home was filled with examples of her beautiful handiwork. Later in life, she exchanged sewing needles for knitting needles and spent two decades pursuing her new passion. Her fondness for knitting, and her skill at it, soon led to requests and orders for her scarves and purses. Sales of her knitted pieces continue to this day.

After she and Puddy retired from teaching, they were free to travel more, and grew particularly fond of travelling in New England. Weekends were spent antique and collectible selling at their booths at Renninger's Antique Market in Kutztown, and occasionally taking their motor home to sell at antique shows in the area.

Judy was predeceased by her beloved husband Puddy, and her younger brother Todd. She is survived by her heartbroken children, Bradley (husband of Deanne), KayLynn (wife of Emerson), and Matthew, and her loving sister Brenda (Becker) Mull. She is survived by grandchildren Jon Hamilton and Jamie Evans, five great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

When she was a young girl, Judy's first pet was a little Boston Terrier named Briar, about whose life she shared stories with her children Bradley, KayLynn, and Matthew. Some 80 years later, Judy (Becker) Hamilton is survived by the last pet she adopted, a little Boston Terrier she named Briar.

Please join the family for a Celebration of Life on Wednesday March 22 at 11 AM at Emmanuel United Methodist Church, 26 West Washington Street, Fleetwood.  In lieu of flowers contributions can be made in memory of Judy to either Emmanuel United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 154, Fleetwood, PA 19522 or the Animal Rescue League of Berks County, 58 kennel Road, Birdsboro, PA 19508.