Queen Judy Rader looked quite regal as she rode through the Sugar Grove Antique Tractor Parade, chaperoned by Janet Judy in Terry Harper’s convertible.
Judy is married to Willard Rader, and together they have two children, Willard Ray (Donna) and Krista (Ruben) Nieves. They are so proud of their grandchildren, Travis, Amber, Natalie and Natasha, and great-granddaughter, Bella. A very close niece, Linda Custer, also lived with Willard and Judy for many years. Linda was very much like a daughter to them.
Judy is the daughter of the late Jesse Harvey and Virginia Harris Snyder Eckard, who lived just beyond the cut off to Crummett’s Run. Jesse and Virginia’s children, in order of birth, were Roscoe, John, Anna Lee, Jack, Judy and Bob. They were direct descendants of the pioneer Johann Casper Eckhardt. The family attended the Crummett’s Run Church of the Brethren, where Judy well recalls having Virginia Crummett and Fred Simmons as her Sunday School teachers.
Following her graduation from Franklin High School, Judy married Willard Rader on June 4, 1960. They were married by Rev. William Middleswarth.
Judy’s employment was varied over the course of her career. She began with the Pendleton County Bank, when it used to be on the corner across from the Korner Shop. She then continued with the bank’s present location working approximately six years. Once Alice Bowman retired from her role as bookkeeper at Ernest Bowman & Bros. store, Judy replaced her, working for 22 years. She then decided to try her hand with the sheriff’s department, working for five years and eight months. Bowman’s need for a person to work “the floor” which prompted them to call Judy. She returned there to work 12 more years, after which she retired.
Both Judy and Willard volunteered with the South Fork Rescue Squad, with Willard having 14 years, and Judy 25 years of service. She served many years on the Pendleton Manor’s board of directors, serving in the capacity of secretary. Judy also was a member of the Sugar Grove Farm Women’s Club. The couple has enjoyed gardening over the years.
Traveling became a much enjoyable pastime for Judy. She enjoyed Branson, Missouri, Canada, Florida and many bluegrass festivals. She especially enjoyed cruises.
Judy enjoys attending family reunions and continues to be close to her many nieces and nephews. She is a very pleasant lady who carries a smile wherever she goes and shares with whomever she meets. Congratulations, Judy! The title of queen of the Sugar Grove Antique Tractor Parade is well deserved.
Life’s little instructions include the following:
- No matter what you do, someone will have something negative to say. Try not to take it personally. People judge and criticize other people’s lives when they’re not happy with their own. Just know you don’t need everyone’s approval to be happy.
- Smile a lot.
- Stay humble and kind.
- Greet everyone a person meets.
- Hold the door open for anyone behind one.
The ninth annual Sugar Grove Antique Tractor Parade is now history. Any more perfect weather couldn’t have been ordered, and the crowd was pleasantly entertained by the number of tractors. Drivers of the tractors were Gary Sheffer, Daniel Kisamore, Marty Smith, Caleb Dilbshaw, Jesse Johnson, Harold Cupp, Ella Johnson, Randy Mongold, Rodger Coleman, Wesley Cupp, Shawn Bowers, Rich Miller, Danny Crider, S. Thomas Mitchell, Carson Mitchell, Richie Ziehl, Janelle Mitchell, Chris Huffman, Brett Weedon, Raymond Varner, Terry Harper, Tim Baldwin, Tyler Mitchell, Abigail Engle, Kelly Varner, Eugene Varner, Smokey Dingess, Dennis Sheldrick, Richard Ziehl, Jennifer Niday, Tyler Puffenbarger, Carl Kimble, Aaron Minor, Morris Homan, Connor Armstrong, Monty Cassell, Junior Grogg, Bethany Eye, Mike Eye, Doug Martin, David Patterson, Glenn Martin, Caleb Raines, Dillon Lambert, Isaac Kelley, Ryan and Myra Mitchell and Lee Simon.
The People’s Choice Award for their favorite tractor went to Janelle Mitchell.
Overall winners for the games were as follows: boys under 6 – Bengy Weiler; girls under 6 – Jaylen Smith; boys 6-12 – Corbin Smith; girls 6-12 – Harley Bowers and Sydney Demers; boys 12-18 – Colby Simmons; and girls 12-18 – Jayden Smith.
Rifle winners were Jack Bowers and Chris Riel with Jeff Moats and Lucinda Harper each receiving $20.
Quotes for the week are as follows:
“It’s human nature to gripe, but I’m going ahead and doing the best I can.” — Elvis Presley
“When you put your life in a good place, good things will follow.” — Willie Nelson
“Nothing, believe me, nothing is more satisfying to me personally than getting a great idea, then beating it to death.” — David Letterman.
“People are so difficult. Give me an elephant any day.” — Mark Shand
“Life without left-handed people wouldn’t be right.” — C.R. Manske
“Into the mountains I go to lose my mind and find my soul.” — John Muir
It is good to sit out on the patio to hear the “Talk of the Grove.”
Taking a vacation oftentimes plays havoc with the writer as she attempts to write the Sugar Grove news. Erroneously omitted in the August birthdays were Junior Wimer’s birthday which was celebrated on the sixth. Then, Patsy Smith celebrated hers on the 13th. Hope it was a happy one.
Recent visitors of Rosalee Grogg were Marleta Wimer, Hendrix Bogan, Shannon Simmons and sister, Brandy, Diane Kuykendall, Steven Grogg and Kim Evick.
Connor Armstrong was very happy to win second place copilot in the parade. His sister, Kinsley, accompanied him.
Wes, Becky, Ben, Emma and Nathan Puffenbarger motored Friday to the West Virginia State Fair. Ben, Emma and Nathan spent Saturday night with their grandparents, Robert and Nancy Hodges in Harrisonburg, Virginia.
Spending several days with Sam and Brenna Cockran were Chris, Angela, Noah and Charley Cockran of Solomons, Maryland.
Motoring from their respective homes to attend the tractor parade and lawn party and to also visit with the Brandon and Tom Mitchell families were Richard and Mary Ziehl of Huntington, Maryland, Dr. Brett, Lynn, Faith and Corrine Weedon of Ijamsville, Maryland, Rich Ziehl of Edgewater, Maryland, Brooke, Camryn and Garrett Weedon of New Market, Maryland, Pat Mitchell of Charlottesville, Virginia, Tyler, Brittany and Emma Mitchell of Barboursville, Virginia, Janelle Mitchell, Destiny and Natalie of Charlotte, North Carolina, John Hughes of Mineral, Virginia, Gene and Joyce Sheffer of Montezuma, Virginia, Cynthis Hughes of Harrisonburg, Virginia, John O. Propst, Natalie Propst and Robert Humes.
Clickety-clacks for the chin wagers are as follows:
- More than 80% of Japan’s business calculations are still done on the abacus.
- The cricket hears with its front legs.
- The porcupine carries over 20,000 quills on its body.
- In Asia, large numbers of fireflies gather in trees and flash their lights in unison like a neon sign.
- Baby ducks know how to swim the minute they’re hatched.
Concerns for this week are many, and they are as follows: Charles Anderson, the Earl Bible family, Bill Brackman, Scherry Chambers, Charlotte Copley, the Thelma Cooper family, Jeff Craig, Jeff Evick, Lee Roy and Ina Evick, Mary Eye, Ron Gilkeson, Barry Gordon, Lola Graham, Marlene Harman, the Anita Frances Harper family, Steve and Armanda Heavner, Starr Hedrick, George Hevener, Gary and Jackie Hills, the Rose Hinkle family, Virgil Homan, Jr., Charlie Marie Hoover, Lorena Hoover, Myrtle Hoover, Enos Horst, Bob Hurry, Alice Johnson, Richard Judy, Melissa Lambert, Robin and Kitty Lambert, Rex Landis, Angela Lung, Linda Malcolm, Roger and Skip Mallow, Yvonne Marsh, Neil McLaughlin, Naomi Michael, the Garry E. Mitchell family, Joe Moats, Lincoln Moore, Ernie Morgan, Aaron Nelson, Kathy Nelson, Ken and Ruth Nelson, Bennie Nesselrodt, Cheryl Paine, Sutton Parrack, Ronnie Pitsenbarger, Wanda Pitsenbarger, the Billy Pratt family, Alda Propst, Betty Lou Propst, Kara Propst, Kathy Propst, Linda Propst, Sheldon Propst, Pam Rexrode, Donna Ruddle, Bernie Sasscer, Barbara Simmons, Emily Simmons, Erin Simmons, Eva Simmons, Charlie Sites, Ona Smith, Stanna Smith, Patricia Swecker, Rosa Tichenor, Sandra Vandevander, Jack Vogel, Judy Waggy, Ron White, Judy Williams and Larry Wimer.
