Judith "Judy" Walker Phelps

Judith (Judy) Leslie Phelps (nee Walker) passed away at the age of 86 on August 26, 2026.

Born on September 27, 1939 to parents, Shaker Heights Police Chief Thomas E. Walker and Ruth C. Walker (nee Harvey), Judy was a lifelong resident of Shaker Heights, Ohio. She was the wife of the late Charles J. Phelps, and she is survived by their two children, Cynthia Chaplin (and husband William) and Stephen Phelps (and wife Kim Longstreet). Judy was the grandmother of Cynthia’s four daughters, Olivia, Samantha, Vanessa, and Clarissa.

Judy attended Lomond Elementary School, Woodbury Junior High, and Shaker Heights High School. She made close friendships from kindergarten all the way through high school, and maintained those friendships all her life. Her deep ties to Shaker High resulted in her becoming the Chairman of her Reunion Committee for the Class of 1957 in 1977, a position she went on to hold for many decades.

Always active socially, Judy enjoyed her monthly dinner club with old friends, and summers spent at her cottage at Conneaut Lake, Pennsylvania. She was an avid bowler and was the Secretary of her Pepper Lanes Wednesday Night Bowling League for many years. She enjoyed participating in local community affairs, such as the Shaker Heights Historical Society, the Friends of Shaker Square, and the Shaker Parents Aware program, and she was an active member of the St. Paul’s Episcopal Church community for 40 years.

Her passion for Cleveland’s sports teams knew no bounds and she was a true fan of the Browns, the Guardians, and the Cavs to the very end of her life.

Working as a bookkeeper and administrative assistant with various small businesses in Shaker was a source of pride, and Judy’s personal record keeping and organizational skills were unsurpassed.

After retiring from office work in 1999, she became a beloved babysitter for many small children, who she looked after in her own home, and stayed in touch with as they grew up and moved away

The family would appreciate donations in Judy’s memory to The Shaker Schools Foundation, 15600 Parkland Dr., 44120, “In Memory of Judith Walker Phelps.”

Graveside services will be held, Friday, September 4th at 11am in Knollwood Cemetery, 1678 SOM Center Road in Mayfield Heights, Ohio.