Bellville Times

Judy C. Bills, age 64, died peacefully at home in  Albuquerque, N.M., the
morning of Aug. 14, 2006, after a  seven-year battle with chronic
lymphocytic leukemia.
She was a woman of keen intelligence and boundless curiosity. She will also
be remembered for her earnest devotion to her work, her delightful laugh,
her unflinching honesty, and her respect for nature in all its forms, from
roadside native plants to household spiders to the Mexican gray wolf.
Judy Claire Haddon was born in Houston on  Jan. 6, 1942, the only child of
Finney Marvin and Evelyn Clara (Stenzel) Haddon. She attended Lutheran and
public schools in Houston and received a B.A. degree in German from Rice
University in 1963. She then entered the doctoral program in Linguistics at
the University of Texas at Austin. There she married fellow student Garland
Bills on Jan. 5, 1968, and they moved to Albuquerque the following year.
After trying her hand at teaching linguistics to graduate students at the
University of New Mexico that year, Judy decided to set aside her studies.
Two years later she gave birth to their only child, Bonnie. After her
daughter began school, Judy started to take classes in computer science
part-time at UNM, receiving the B.S. degree in 1984 and subsequently taking
several graduate courses. She enjoyed a successful and satisfying career as
a computer programmer, employed the last 11 years with Goodrich Corporation
Space Flight Systems.
Judy was preceded in death by her father. She is survived by her mother of
Bellville; her husband of Albuquerque; and her daughter Bonnie Bills,
son-in-law Charles Hornberger, and granddaughter Beatrix Hornberger, all of
Los Angeles.
Her body has been donated to the UNM School of Medicine for medical research
and teaching. 
There will be no memorial service. Friends are welcome to visit the family
home in Albuquerque any time between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 19.

Posted by Joy Neely