Ardon Berkeley Judd Jr. (RB) of Houston, Texas and Boothbay Harbor, died early the morning of April 25, 2016 in Houston, Texas.

He was born in Houston on October 7, 1936 to Ardon B. Judd Sr. and Sallie Reynolds Matthews. His maternal family included the Matthews and Reynolds ranching families, who did much to settle north-central Texas. From them he inherited his three great loves: love of the land, particularly the family’s ranch, Lambshead; love of his large and close family; and love of stories, whether told, as in olden times, by the Cookshack fire or otherwise.

He was educated at Kinkaid and St. John’s Schools in Houston; Episcopal High School, Alexandria, Virginia; Denison University (where he was a member of Beta Theta Pi); and the University of Texas School of Law.

He married Nancy Ruina (Rue) Wallace of Gainesville, Florida on June 5, 1965. They raised their two daughters, Nancy Alston Judd and Sallie Matthews Judd, in Arlington, Virginia.

Ardon started his career in government service as a lawyer for the Federal Trade Commission, before working in private practice and ultimately joining Dresser Industries, where he spent over 30 years as vice president of governmental affairs. He served as chairman of the board of Meridian House International Center; on the boards of: National Foreign Trade Council; Karl F. Landegger Program in International Business Diplomacy, Georgetown University; Sullivan Principles Counsel (South Africa); and The Maret School; as group chair of Transatlantic Business Dialogue; on the executive committee of the Citizens Democracy Corps; a member of the President’s Export Council; and a member of St. John’s Episcopal Church, Lafayette Square.

Upon retirement from Dresser, he returned to Texas, where he dedicated himself, characteristically, to the welfare of others, serving on the board of directors of Matthews Land and Cattle Company; the Old Jail Art Center in Albany Texas; vice president and executive committee of Southwest Cattle Raisers Association; the board of visitors of the University of Texas’s McDonald Observatory; co-chair of the Private Lands Committee, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department; National Inspector, Farmers Market Commission; a member the Tejas Breakfast Club; Order of St. John; Christ Church Cathedral, Houston; and Matthews Memorial Presbyterian Church and Trinity Episcopal Church, Albany, Texas.

Ardon was a member of the Metropolitan Club of Washington, the Chevy Chase Club of Maryland, the River Oaks Country Club, and the Bayou Club of Houston. He was a natural joiner, and in equal measures took joy from and gave joy to all around him. He loved hearing people’s stories and seemed to draw energy from learning about others. He was famous for making friends wherever he went. His famous opening line, “So, where’re you from?” always came with a broad smile and an outstretched hand. Lucky are those who heard it.

Ardon is survived by a large and loving family: his wife, Rue; daughters, Nancy and husband John Barclay Armstrong of Houston and Sallie and husband Justin Douglas Abelow of New York, New York; sisters, Sally Ann Judd Harrison and Susan Judd Brown and husband Joseph C. Brown; grandchildren, John Barclay Armstrong III, Alston Legendre Armstrong, Ardon Judd Armstrong, Campbell Reynolds Abelow, Elizabeth Matthews Abelow, and a legion of adoring nieces and nephews, cousins and friends.

The Judds have spent the last few summers in Boothbay Harbor on Juniper Point. All are lucky to have known him; all will feel his absence.

A memorial service will be held at Christ Church Cathedral in Houston Friday, April 29 at 11 a.m. with interment in the family cemetery at Reynolds Bend, Lambshead Ranch, Albany, Texas.

In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial contributions be made to the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, P. O. Box 234, Boothbay, ME 04537; or charity of your choice.