Judi Marie Dillow Raphael, 71, of Fairfax, Virginia passed away on March 24, 2018, after a short illness.

Grateful for having shared her life are one son, David Victor Raphael of Chicago, IL; her daughter, Krista Marie Frederick and her husband Eldon Scott Frederick of Bealeton, VA; two grandchildren, Dylan Victor Frederick and Ella Grace Frederick.

Judi was preceded in death by her mother, Melva Henrietta (Hammer) Dillow of Castlewood, SD and her father Roy Dillow of Rapid City, SD.

Judi was born in Rapid City, South Dakota on October 12, 1946. She graduated from Rapid City High School in 1964 and in 1968 graduated from the University of South Dakota with a bachelor’s degree in social work and foreign language. She was an active member of Alpha Phi sorority while attending college. She worked at the University of South Dakota library and later with the Wisconsin State Department. She was a dedicated military spouse and loved traveling with her family for postings throughout the United States and abroad, including Germany, Malaysia, and the Philippines. She was enthralled with culture and travel, embarking on trips to China and India, along with attending Malaysian language training at the Defense Language Institute, where she earned professional level competency. Settling in Fairfax, VA she worked for 20 years in project management for several IT firms in the Washington DC area, eventually retiring in 2008.

Amongst her fondest memories were the summers she spent as a young girl, at her family’s farm in Estelline, South Dakota, originally settled by her Danish grandparents in the 1880s. From a young age she developed an abiding love for animals, reflected by her continuing support of the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust and other animal advocacy organizations. In addition, Judi was also an avid reader, enjoyed crafting, and researching her family genealogy. She was a devoted grandmother, who loved spoiling her grandkids, and will be remembered for her care and compassion. Her presence and smile will be forever missed.

On Thursday, March 29th, 2018, the family will receive visitors at the Baker-Post Funeral Home & Cremation Center, from 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Funeral service will immediately follow from 12:30 pm-1:30 pm. In the funeral home chapel. Graveside internment will take place the same day, at 2:00 p.m., at the Stonewall Memory Gardens, near Bull Run Battlefield.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust.

Please sign the guestbook at www.bakerpostfh.com

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Judi D. Raphael (Dillow), please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.