Obituary of Judy Kay McGuire

Judy Kay Showalter McGuire passed away on Sunday, September 13, 2015. She was born on April 18, 1945, in Decatur, Ill., moving to Virginia at the age of 15. She was a member of New Life Christian Ministries.She is predeceased by her parents, John and Madeline Showalter; grandparents, Lewis and Della Merriman of Illinois, and Ernest and Elizabeth Showalter of Virginia; also, a beloved brother, Dennis Shane Showalter. After working for Dr. L.G. Richards Jr. for 10 years, she went to work for Roanoke Memorial Hospital in transcription. Judy retired from Carilion Clinic after 31 years of service in the field of transcription, becoming a Certified Medical Transcriptionist. She served as Director of Transcription Services for over five years and helped lead Carilion's transcription department into the computer age. She then worked two and a half years for Spheris Transcription Services as a home-based medical transcriptionist before fully retiring in 2008. She served as president of the Blue Ridge Chapter of the American Association for Medical Transcription for six years. Though having no children of her own, she loved all children who touched her life. She was a boss who cared for her transcriptionists and worked hard to prove the area of medical transcription was a highly professional field which required medical knowledge equal to that of a physician. She was respected by all her employees, who kept in touch with her long after she was no longer their boss. Her cooking expertise was known far and wide, especially making candy. She bowled at Hill Top Lanes for 16 years on Carilion's bowling team, her team even bringing home the championship one year. She was a faithful blood donor for years. She is survived by her husband of 39 years, Donald C. McGuire Sr.; stepsons, Donald C. McGuire Jr. and wife, Lisa, and Douglas W. McGuire; beloved stepgrandchildren, Melanie Dudding and husband, Christopher, Christopher McGuire and Scottie McGuire; stepgreat-grandsons, Zachary and Matthew; and the joy of her life, great-granddaughter, Autumn Williams; sister, Gloria Donaldson and husband, Bill; sister-in-law, Dolores McGuire; very special nieces, Rita S. Dalton and husband, Allen, Shannon P. Showalter, Marlene Christie and husband, Steve, and Kathleen Burtner and husband, Jeff; great-nieces, Heidi and Melissa Dalton, Nichole Christie, Audrey Burtner and Melissa Mehafey; and great-nephews, Jonathon Dalton and James Burtner, were very special to her also. She also leaves behind many special cousins and friends who meant so much to her. Flowers will be appreciated or memorials may be made to the American Red Cross. Funeral Services will be conducted at 1 p.m. on Thursday, September 17, 2015, at Simpson Funeral Home, 5160 Peters Creek Road by the Rev. Walter L. Wood. Interment will follow in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 p.m. and from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, September 16, 2015, at Simpson Funeral Home, 540-366-0707.