George ‘Judd’ Huney

George “Judd” Huney, 91, a long-time Bainbridge Island resident, died on June 19, at home surrounded by his family.

Judd was born on March 5, 1913, in Rochester, Minn., to Minnie J. and George Huney.

During World War II, he worked in Alaska as a butcher, and then served in the Merchant Marines.

He sailed on transport ships that carried supplies and troops.

In 1945, he and his wife Alice moved to Bainbridge Island and opened their first grocery store at Pleasant Beach.

It was just after the war and goods were in short supply. They did $38 in sales on the first day, despite having only potatoes and corn flakes in stock.

In 1947 they bought the Lynwood Grocery Store (now Walt’s Market). That year, Judd became a charter member of the newly formed Rotary Club of Bainbridge Island.

In 1961 they sold their grocery business, and started coin-operated dry cleaning businesses on Bainbridge and in Poulsbo.

In 1963, Judd went to work as a meat cutter for John and Mo Nakata at Thriftway, and worked there until his retirement in 1978.

Judd was president of the Bainbridge Island Chamber of Commerce in 1952, and as president he helped break ground for the Winslow ferry terminal.

He was also an original member of the Bainbridge Committee, the only social service agency on Bainbridge Island in 1948. The committee gathered small amounts of money and spread the gifts they could buy among people who needed them.

He served on the Bainbridge Committee board from the first meeting in 1947 until 1978, when he retired. The committee continues to serve the Bainbridge Island community with food vouchers and temporary help with rent and utilities.

He was on hand for the first Rotary Auction on Aug. 13, 1960, and never missed one. The first auction was held at the old Winslow shipyard, with all proceeds totaling $5,663.15, which went to the new Bainbridge Public Library.

He loved to drive up the bid on auctioned items, sometimes bringing home unexpected purchases like water skis or a pickup truck.

Over the years, he built many pieces of outdoor furniture in his garage carpentry shop to contribute to the auction.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Alice; daughters JoAnne Huney, Judy Kutz (Jim), and Suzan Huney (Earl Krause); grandsons Mark Frohnauer, and Daniel, Nathan and Davi Kutz; granddaughters Cara Huney-Krause, Jee Young and Jee Sook Kutz; and six great-grandchildren.

His four sisters proceeded him in death.

In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the Bainbridge Committee (through the Bainbridge Foundation, P.O. Box 10354, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110) or to the Bainbridge Island Rotary Club’s Judd Huney Fund, a special fund created for large community projects (P.O. Box 11286, Bainbridge Island).

Also, on June 26, at the 44th annual Rotary Auction and Rummage Sale at Woodward Middle School, islanders can make a bid in Judd’s memory and support the Rotary Club of which he was so proud.

A celebration of Judd’s life will be held at 2 p.m. June 27 at Rolling Bay Presbyterian Church.