Judith A. Planck

Judith Ann Planck (Ing) was born on April 5th, 1944 in Akron, OH. Her birth certificate has her parents as Mr. and Mrs. Victor C. Ing, barely referencing the force that Marjorie, her mother, was. She grew up mostly in Cuyahoga Falls with a few years in her early childhood in California as her father climbed the corporate ladder with Goodrich. She met her lifelong friend and future sister-in-law Evelyn in grade school. They knew each other for 74 years and was her sister-in-law married to her brother Victor, for 56 of those. She met her future husband, Michael Planck, after attending Kent State University while she worked as a secretary at Alsco, a local aluminum siding company. They married in 1967 and remained married until her passing, dealing with many trials and tribulations during that but remained steadfast by each other’s sides those 59 years. Their first child Katha Aesha Shawna Haru Ayesha Ing Planck (hippies in the 60’s!) later Kasha and now Aeron was born in 1968 and then Mitchell popped out in 1969. Done with having kids they moved around the Akron area working on houses for many years with the help of mother Marj, brother Victor, and sister-in-law Evelyn. Judy’s parents instilled a strong work ethic and she loved her career as a secretary. She was often the primary earner of the family as her husband experienced unemployment. She was very proud of her job at the International Institute in Akron supporting Hmong and Laotian and other refugees from around the world who were resettled in Akron, introducing her family to foods and cultures that she learned there. She switched careers in the 90s after the kids had moved out, working with Michael in their own business as real estate appraisers.

Judy always loved plants and gardening and kept banana plants, papyrus, and a wide variety of other plants growing year round. With her care the banana plants even produced bananas a few times! She also loved nature and travel, taking her children hiking the local trails of Cuyahoga Valley National Park many times and then later as an adult she would travel around the USA hiking and walking many places. Many trips were spent on the beaches of Alabama, the Outer Banks, and Chincoteague Island while she gathered items for some of her many collections which included sea shells, beach sand, marbles, dice, and other little things. She was an avid reader too, with travel and nature books taking up a lot of space on her bookshelves. Later in life she discovered her love for dogs, raising her beloved black lab Chelsea for years before adopting Gracie, a blue tick coonhound. She had a protective nature towards animals and adopted pets that had been traumatized and neglected. Judy spent a lot of time with her dogs on the towpath and at the beaver pond. Judy had an amazing sense of humor that she got from both of her parents and shared with all of her family and friends.

In February 2025, Judy was diagnosed with mesothelioma, an aggressive and incurable form of lung cancer. While getting any available treatments to slow its progression, she continued to live her life the best she could, taking care of Mike who is dealing with Parkinson’s disease (probably due to toxic chemical exposures as a child in Anniston, AL which is now a Superfund site) and her sweet dog Gracie. She did less gardening this past year, feeling the exhausting effects of the cancer and its treatments, but kept things going as best she could. As January 2026 rolled around, the recent therapies weren’t really helping anymore, the cancer was spreading, making her weaker and giving her trouble breathing. An ER visit turned into a hospital rehab stay to try to strengthen her but in her weakened state she got pneumonia and went back to the ER and from there back to rehab. Finally, she was transferred to a long term care facility under the care of hospice where they kept her as comfortable as they could during her short stay.. She was joined there by Mike, who had ended up at the same rehab facility after a fall at home resulted in a broken leg. After being her constant room visitor in rehab, Mike was able to share a room with Judy at Bath Manor, enabling them to spend her final days together. She passed away peacefully on February 28, 2026, not wanting a funeral. She is and will be much missed and often remembered, with love.

Arrangements entrusted to Adams Mason Funeral Home (330)535-9186