University News
Judy Gedney Obituary
August 22, 2019
MACOMB, IL – Funeral services for Western Illinois University Professor Emeritus Judy Gedney, of Macomb, will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 7 at the First Baptist Church in Macomb.
A family visitation will be held following the services. Gedney passed away Wednesday, Aug. 21 in Macomb.
After coming to WIU in 1968, Gedney served as an assistant professor of physical education. She retired in 2002 after 37 years and had also served as a gymnastics coach at the University.
In addition to teaching and coaching, Gedney participated in countless powerlifting competitions. During 30 years of powerlifting, she established multiple records as a world champion and world record holder, traveling the world for competitions. Gedney is an inductee into the WIU Hall of Fame and the USA Powerlifting Hall of Fame.
After her competition career, Gedney began focusing on the topic of drug testing in women's powerlifting and she and another powerlifter achieved the goal of bringing the first testing to the United States Powerlifting Federation national championships in 1986.
Gedney and her husband, Roger, also a WIU professor emeritus, traveled to Haiti multiple times on mission trips. She taught English to Haitian children and adults and she and Roger developed a 10,000-word Creole-to-English dictionary, which is still used.
Gedney is survived by her husband, and one son, David.
For additional obituary information, visit clugston-tibbittsfh.com.
Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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