James David Judd

St. George, Utah James David Judd Age: 80 Passed away on July 28th, 2026, in his home in St. George Utah. Born on November 23, 1945, at St. Mark's Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah. Parents: Ray and Ella Sorensen Judd Spouse: Nihla Wilcox Judd Married in the Salt Lake Temple on March 14, 1969 Life Sketch: James David Judd was born at St. Mark's Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah on November 23, 1945, to Ella Sorensen and Ray Judd. He passed away late in the evening on July 28, 2026, with his loving wife by his side, who provided him with constant comfort and reassurance. Jim’s final years were filled with tremendous physical afflictions and suffering due to various chronic diseases and other medical issues. Jim lived in Bountiful, Utah, until 1954 when his family moved to California so that his mother could receive cancer treatments. They resided in Palos Verdes Estates and Santa Monica. Jim and his older brother, Joel, rode a bus to attend the exciting and memorable Grand Opening of Disneyland. When his mother’s cancer treatments failed, their family returned to Richard's Street in Salt Lake City near the Bee’s Baseball Field. It was here that Jim and Joel joined the Knot Hole Club where they watched many of the baseball games and enjoyed discounted hot dogs and popcorn together. Jim’s oldest brother, Lawrence, attended the University of Utah while living on campus with his wife, Lillian, and their daughter, Georgia. Joel and Jim would frequently ride a bus to Lawrence and Lillian’s apartment where they would spend the day while their dad was at work. During the final stages of his mother’s cancer, Ella was so ill, that she spent most of her time bedridden until she eventually succumbed at the end of 1955. Jim was just ten years old. He, Joel, and their dad, moved to West Point, Utah, after his dad remarried Susie Parkin Page, in the fall of 1956. Jim attended West Point Elementary and then spent the next two years at North Davis Junior High. He went on to graduate from Clearfield High School in 1964. It was there that Jim’s best friend, Michael Hoskins, introduced him to Nihla Wilcox, when she was 15 years old and he was 16. Nihla was Michael’s girlfriend at the time, but that didn’t deter Jim in the slightest. He had his eye on Nihla and the chase began. Jim graduated from high school in 1964 and then served a two-year LDS mission in 1965 in Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina. His dedication and hard work resulted in the conversion of many people to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Following his mission, Jim enrolled at Weber State College, graduating with a degree in Accounting in 1972. Following a seven-year, relentless pursuit and numerous trips to Las Vegas and BYU where Nihla was residing, Jim married her in the Salt Lake LDS Temple on March 14, 1969. The ceremony was performed by Apostle, LeGrande Richards. Nihla gave birth to their first child, Dustin, in the summer of 1971. Jim was employed at the IRS Service Center in Ogden as an Internal Auditor for the Regional Inspector's Office. After graduation, Jim transferred to the new Fresno, California Service Center. A year later, he was hired as a Special Agent Criminal Investigator in the Intelligence Division in Salt Lake City. Their small family resided in Centerville, Utah, where their daughter, Tiffany, was born in the Fall of 1973. They moved to Hawaii in 1974 after Jim accepted a position in the Honolulu office. Just prior to the birth of their 3rd child, Jim made the massive mistake of announcing to his wife that he, “…would sit this one out.” Nihla scowled and asked if she could also “sit it out.” She was examined and turned away by the nurses at the Kapiolani Hospital during the early stages of labor and dilation. As they arrived back at their small Hawaiian home, Nihla informed Jim that he should get ready to deliver this baby as she waddled through their front door, Darren, was crowning. Jim was then handed the colossally terrifying job of aiding his wife in delivering their son on their living room floor in the Spring of 1975. Later an intensely ‘spirited’ discussion ensued between Nihla and the hospital staff regarding whose signature was on the birth certificate as The Attending Physician. In the end, James Judd’s name was awarded the victor, and rightfully so, as he had been both a new daddy and a doctor all on the same day. Darren is the only child in our family who can boast about having his dad’s name on his birth certificate as, The Attending Physician. Jim was later awarded a Doctor’s Kit from The Hawaii Kai Ward at a party the following June. Due to health complications with their daughter, Tiffany, the Judd’s moved to Kaysville, Utah in August of 1976. Jim and Nihla welcomed their daughter, Tonya, in late February 1977. Five-and-a-half years later, their fifth child, Joshua, was born in 1982. Jim was briefly employed by American Arms International in 1986, where he built and tested machine guns. After a few short months, he returned to the Criminal Investigative Division in Salt Lake City. Jim was then transferred to the St. George office in 1993. His work in the U.S. Treasury Department involved a wide range of law enforcement duties including illegal drug activities, financial fraud, organized crime, and U.S. Presidential protection detail where he helped guard Presidents Ronald Regan and George H.W. Bush. He was also a federally Certified Firearms Instructor with a Distinguished Expert rating. In 1995 Jim accepted a part-time position with the Washington County Sheriff's Department as Sergeant over the Reserve Deputies. He retired from the U.S. Treasury Department in 1999 and began serving a four-year term as the Ivins’ City Justice Court Judge in the year 2000. Jim has always been an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints where he served as a ward clerk, finance clerk, membership clerk, executive secretary, Sunday School President and teacher in many of the organizations. He was incredibly generous and loved to take care of his friends and family by fixing broken things (often improving them beyond their original design), demanding to pay for restaurant bills, and leaving generous tips (sometimes larger than the price of the service). Jim always had a phenomenal work ethic, both at home and at the office. He made his own arrows for archery and reloaded his own ammunition for shooting. He played with his family as passionately as he worked. Saturdays were his sacred and hallowed play-days. He and his family enjoyed many happy times going camping, hunting, fishing, boating, water skiing, snow skiing, hiking, target shooting, flying radio-controlled model airplanes, river rafting, and riding motorcycles together. Everything that Jim did, he executed with his whole heart and soul. His children loved and respected him because they knew that he was honest and fair, and they learned a strong work ethic from him and their mother. Jim is survived by his wife, Nihla, and five children: Dustin (Heidi), Tiffany (Bradley), Darren (Sarah), Tonya (Brian), and Joshua (Crystal), as well as 22 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents Ray & Ella Sorensen Judd and his brother, Lawrence Ray Judd. Sole surviving sibling: Joel Gilbert Judd Enormous thanks to friends, family, and the lovely luncheon ladies for their generous outpouring of love and service in our time of sorrow. In lieu of flowers, since “Sergeant Judd” is unavailable, there will be police officers writing tickets for any and all reasons. That’s what Jim would have wanted anyway. A pre-service gathering will be held on August 4th, 2026, from 9:00 - 10:30 a.m. at the Winchester Hills 2nd Ward building 5338 N. Winchester Dr. Saint George, UT 84770 The Funeral will follow at 11:00 a.m. To join via Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/93981852365 Family and friends are invited to view and share tributes at www.serenitystg.com