Obituary for Warren Judge

He is survived by his wife of forty-two years, Theresa (“Tess”) Strickler Judge, and by his children Montague and his wife Katherine Dixon, Michael Dixon, Mary Elizabeth (Dixon) Levy, and Mark and his wife Wendy Dixon.  Warren was also a devoted grandfather to his ten grandchildren, Keller and Benjamin Dixon, Matthew and Elizabeth Dixon, Max and Molly Levy, Houston and Emily Dixon, and Noah and Emma Hutchens. 

Warren was born in Queens, New York and raised in Charlottesville, Virginia.  He was the loving son of Ruth and Warren Cameron Judge, Jr. and brother to Carl and his wife Maren Judge, Robert Judge, and Ruth and her husband Doug Bridgeforth.  Warren was also a loving uncle to thirteen nieces and nephews. Warren graduated from Virginia Wesleyan College in 1972.  Along with his wife, Tess, Warren operated hotels in Greensboro, North Carolina and on the Outer Banks for more than forty years.  He also operated the Sands Seafood Restaurant on the Outer Banks and was fondly known as the “Sandsman.”

Warren was a dedicated public servant, serving as a town councilman for three terms in Jamestown, North Carolina, where he and Tess raised their four children.  Working with a small group of parents, he formed a youth baseball league in that community and served on numerous committees and boards supporting youth sports and high school athletics. 

Warren moved to the Outer Banks of North Carolina in 1987, where his commitment to public service continued.  He served on the Dare County Tourism Board for nine years, serving as Chairman for five of those years.  He also served on the Board of the Dare County Airport Authority. 

In 2000, Warren was elected to the Dare County Board of Commissioners, which he served on for sixteen years until the time of his passing.  He spent eleven of those years as Chairman of the Board.  Among his many other civic accomplishments, Warren served on and/or chaired the Joint Committee on Beach Access, Outer Banks Catch Executive Committee, UNC Coastal Studies Institute Board of Directors, College of the Albemarle Board of Directors, Shoreline Management Commission, Dare County Social Services Board, Children and Youth Partnership, Dare County Youth Center Advisory Board, Citizens Action Committee to Replace the Bonner Bridge and the Preserve Beach Access Initiative, and the Dare County Capital Improvements Planning Committee. Warren also created a joint task force bringing together representatives of the Board of Commissioners and the Board of Education to work together.

In 2011, Warren and his wife Tess were named Dare County Citizens of the Year by the Outer Banks Chamber of Commerce for their wide-ranging and tireless work on behalf of the citizens of Dare County.  At the time of his passing, Warren was a candidate for the North Carolina House of Representatives.

Along with his wife, Warren was a charter member of All Saints Episcopal Church in Southern Shores, NC.

The family will receive visitors at St. Andrews By-the-Sea Episcopal Church on Saturday, November 12, from 6-8 pm.  A celebration of Warren’s life will be held on Sunday, November 13, at 2 pm at St. Andrews By-the-Sea.  Burial will take place immediately following the service at Southern Shores cemetery.  Friends and relatives are cordially invited to join the family for a reception at Duck Woods Country Club immediately following the burial.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to All Saints Episcopal Church Building Fund, 40 Pintail Trail, Southern Shores, NC 27949 or to the Outer Banks Community Foundation Disaster Relief Fund, 13 Skyline Road, Kitty Hawk, NC 27949.

Twiford Funeral Home, Manteo is assisting the family with arrangements. Condolences may be expressed at www.twifordfh.com.