Judith Belle (Dennis) Scharnagel passed away July 27, 2026 after 89 years of love, generosity, and adventure. Her gentle spirit and joyful smile will be missed dearly.

Judith was born on Dec 26, 1936 to Thomas Meredith and Sallye Lea Dennis at her grandparent's house in Quanah, TX. She married Charles Richard Scharnagel on Dec 24, 1953. While Charles completed basic training in the army, Judith finished high school, granduating from Quanah High School in 1954. 

Judith and Charles were stationed in Panama, then returned to Texas, where their daughter Nancy Kathryn was born in 1957. Charles' work in aerospace took them to Oxnard, CA, where second daughter Karen Lea was born in 1959. After living in Lompoc, Maryland, and Virginia, they returned to Lompoc, CA in 1971, where Judith lived for 55 years.

Judith attended Allan Hancock College and Santa Barbara City College, receiving her Associate Degree in Nursing in 1974. She loved working as an ICU nurse and later as the director of the department overseeing quality assurance, infection control, and more at the Lompoc Hospital for 24 years, retiring in 1998.

Judith and Charles were active members of the local Church of Christ wherever they lived at the time. They served with the Joy Bus ministry, driving those who needed rides to church.

Judith loved music, especially hymns and classical music, and took nine years of piano lessons as a child. She passed her love of singing on to both of her daughters, teaching them to sing in church while sitting next to her. In her later years, Judith often listened to hymns on her phone. 

Judith and Charles enjoyed camping. In retirement they traveled throughtout the US and Canada, volunteering at small churches and children's homes with the Sojourners organization. They continued to travel, visiting friends and family as long as they were able.

Judith was married to the love of her life for 67 years until losing Charles in 2020.

Family was one of the most important things in Judith's life. She was a good Christian example of a loving and supportive daughter, sister, wife mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and mother-in-law.

Judith was preceded in death by: her parents, Meredith and Sallye Dennis, sisters Tommye, Jane, Renee, and Rebekah, brother Arvin, and husband Charles. She is survived by: daughters, Nancy Brockman (Dave) of Buhl, ID and Karen Sekishiro (Doug) of Novato, CA; grandchildren Jeremy, John, Beth, Dani, Nick; and 7 great-grandchildren.

Visitation and viewing will be Thursday, August 20 from 5-7pm at Starbuck-Lind Mortuary. A memorial service will be held at Lompoc Church of Christ on Friday, August 21 at 11am, followed by burial at Lompoc Evergreen Cemetery.

In Lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Lompoc Church of Christ.