The Reverend Judy Richards Vetter, 72, went to be with the Lord on Jan. 8, 2026.
Her family, friends, and church community thank God for her life and the legacy of love and faith she left behind.
She was born on June 25, 1953, in Baltimore, Maryland, to the late Reverend William E. Richards and Mary JoAnn (McNemar) Richards.
Rev. Vetter graduated from Franklin High School, earned an undergraduate in education from Ferrum College and James Madison University in Virginia, a masters in communication from West Virginia University, and a masters of divinity from Eastern Mennonite University.
She was a kindergarten teacher at Brandywine Elementary and a birth-to-three teacher for RESA VIII in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia as a first career. After her 27-year career in public education, she followed her calling to join the ministry.
She served charges in Hardy, Tyler, Hampshire, Wood, and Pendleton counties. Her final appointment, in Pendleton County, brought her back to one of her childhood homes as she followed in her father’s footsteps serving as the minister of the South Fork charge for Fairview Bethel, Francis Asbury, and Riverside United Methodist churches.
She enjoyed traveling, arts and crafts, gardening, shopping, and ice cream. She had a great sense of humor and loved to make those around her laugh. She touched and influenced the lives of many, making countless friends along the way.
She shepherded numerous individuals in their personal faith and helped them develop their ministries to serve God and their communities. She had a heart for children, which was demonstrated by her passion for her education career and her focus on children’s ministry within the United Methodist Church, as well as her loving care of her daughters and grandchildren.
She was married to Charles F. Burgoyne II (1970-1980) and Frank Vetter (1981-1997).
She was a loving and devoted mother to Stacey (Burgoyne) Funkhouser (husband, Andy) and Holly (Burgoyne) Branch (husband, Ron), who she described as her greatest accomplishments. She was affectionately known as “Grammoo” to her grandchildren, Justus Branch (Holly) and Sophia, Heather, and Rachel Funkhouser (Stacey). She was the oldest sister to Jann Richards, Jill O’Regan, and Jinni Richards, aunt to Will and John Hardy and stepmother to Michael and Steven Vetter.
She was also preceded in death by her brother-in-law, Jerry Hardy; and nephew, John Hardy.
A celebration of life will be held at a later date.
Services are to be determined in the future as a celebration of life.
Memorial donations may be made to Hospice of the Panhandle, one’s local Hospice Care facility, or one may honor her by taking the time to serve those in need within one’s community.
Arrangements were made by Brown Funeral Home.
