Judith Belle (Bennett) Rouch, 80, died Feb. 5, 2024, at her residence.
She was born Aug. 31, 1943, in Plymouth, Ind. to Charles and Donna
Bennett. Her husband of 58 years is Keith Rouch. Their two sons are Eric
(Rebecca), Louisville, Ky., and Tim (Laura Rambin), Oakland, Calif. Her
surviving brother is Dennis Bennett, South Bend, Ind. Her parents and
four other brothers preceded her in death. Two granddaughters are
Abigail Rouch and Anna Rouch, both from Louisville, Ky. Sisters-in-law
are Sharon Reynolds and Rebecca Rouch.
Judy graduated from Lakeville High School, Lakeville, Ind. She was in
school with her future husband, sharing study hall sessions for algebra.
They did not begin dating until the sophomore year in college. She
received an elementary education degree cum laude from Bethel College,
Mishawaka, Ind. in 1965. After marriage in 1965, she moved with her
husband to Moline, Ill., then to Lafayette, Ind. for his graduate work
and taught third grade at Battle Ground, Ind. They then spent 19 years
in Greendale, Wis. and in 1985 moved with him to Versailles, Ky. when he
joined the University of Kentucky faculty and later became department
chair in mechanical engineering. She always attended university events
with him in a strong supportive role.
After they started a family, she pursued artwork in charcoal art, faux
finishes, stained glass and interior design, taking numerous courses.
She was an accomplished seamstress who sewed her own wedding dress and
many other items for her grand-daughters and others.
She coordinated the restoration of the Rouch family farmhouse, with faux
finishes throughout. She and her husband built a house in Versailles in
1999, an and continued the design, art work and faux finishes in that
endeavor. She provided faux finishes and floor cloths in the Jack Jouett
House in Woodford County, faux finishes in several horse farms around
Versailles and provided floor cloths for the William Whitley House in
Stanford, Ky.
She was always a strong believer in Christ, taught Sunday school and
provided floral arrangements and other support for several area churches.
Judy and Keith enjoyed traveling, with trips to Great Britain and France
and a number of U.S. and Canadian locations. In 2016, they outfitted a
camper van, and enjoyed stays at Mammoth Cave and at state parks in
Florida and the Carolinas. Judy and Keith are proud of their two sons,
Eric, an engineer, and Tim, an architect, as well as Rebecca and Laura
and granddaughters Abigail and Anna.
The Judy Rouch Endowed Scholarship has been established at Bethel
University in Mishawaka, Ind.
Appreciation for her care is expressed to the doctors and staff at the
University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center, and to the doctors and
staff at the Duke University Brain Tumor Center. Her final three months
at home were greatly helped by the staff of Bluegrass Care Navigators
(Hospice) and the caregivers of Visiting Angels of Versailles
Funeral Services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024, at
Blackburn & Ward Funeral Home. Visitation will be from 12 p.m. to
service time. Burial will follow in Rose Crest Cemetery. Family and
Friends are encouraged to share memories and leave messages of
condolence on Judith’s tribute page at www.BlackburnandWard.com.