We are sad to announce that after 91 years the world has lost a truly spectacular woman. Judith Katzin Coen passed away December 17. 2021.
Judi grew up in a tight knit family in Wilson, NC. Her beloved father and mother, George and Fannie, moved the family to Miami, Florida where she briefly attended the University of Miami.
Judi met and married the dashing Arlen Edward Coen and moved to Morganton, NC to embark on a retail career with the Cohen family. With her fashionable and creative flair, she successfully ran an upscale children’s store in Lenoir, NC. Children, Stephen and Lori followed. The family moved to Charlotte, NC in the mid 1960’s where Judi returned to school at UNC-Charlotte and earned a BS in Chemistry. She taught and ran the Chemistry lab at Central Piedmont Community College for several years. Upon Arlen’s passing away at an early age, Judi enrolled in NC State’s College of Natural Resources Department of Forest Biomaterials and earned a degree in Wood and Paper Pulp Engineering. She had a long and very successful and distinguished career with Weyerhaeuser in Oregon where she fought and championed equal pay for equal work for women.
After retiring at the age of 62, she returned to North Carolina to be closer to family. She obtained her General Contractor’s License and built her own home on her 40 acres of land. She successfully farmed the land for fruit and vegetables, producing and canning for herself and her family. She became active in many community organizations. Judi was president of the Tyson ECA and active in the Stanly County ECA as well as the Democratic Women’s Party for many years.
With all of this woman’s accomplishments, her greatest accomplishment and pride was her family. Judi leaves to the world her son, Stephen (Susan), and her daughter Lori (Louis Fata). She has four very successful grandchildren, Andrew (Lily Angel), Jena (Mitchell Gartner), Ashleigh and Brian. She has three great-grandchildren, Lyla, Emilia and Theodor George (who is named after her beloved father George). She is also survived by her loving brother Dr. David Katzin.
Judi will join her beloved father and mother and many uncles, aunts, cousins and family members at the Hebrew Cemetery in Wilson, NC.
Judith Katzin Coen, a woman of short stature, but a giant amongst her peers.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to The Nature Conservancy (https://www.nature.org).
Arrangements are being handled by Sossoman Funeral Home, Morganton, NC.
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Thinking about you, Judi.. one year later.. and how amazing you were. You were unassuming, and I must say-- very brave-- to undertake a program meant for 20 year olds. I was already old for that program! You made it work, Judi. And you obtained a more-than-lifelong friend in me. I wish you well deserved rest, Judi. And huge thanks to your family-- both gone and still on this earth-- for sharing you. Miss you...