On Saturday, June 21, at 5:25 pm, Dr. Stephen Michael Judah transitioned from this world to eternity at 59 years of age. Steve died in his Upper Arlington home, surrounded by his loving family. Steve was born on May 17, 1949, in Vincennes, Indiana, to Bill and Jewell Judah. He met Sharon Bonnie at a Christian Youth Convention in Winona Lake, Indiana in 1967, Sharon was 14 and Steve was 16. The two fell deeply in love, and were married on June 16, 1971 in Columbus. Steve earned a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Religion from Wabash College, as well as a M.A. and Ph.D. in psychology from the Ohio State University. Ordained as a minister in the Free Methodist Church, Steve served as a pastor at Northwest United Methodist Church in Columbus, and then worked at the Milhon Medical Clinic as a therapist for several years. Licensed as a psychologist in 1983, he founded and directed Psych-Care, one of the largest multidiscipline clinical and counseling practices in Ohio and emerged as a leader in the field of relationships for both couples and businesses. Through leading hundreds of couples through healing and restoration, he developed a simple method for relational wholeness that he called the Essential Disciplines. This method has been utilized nationwide by multiple organizations and businesses, including The Dibble Institute, an organization dedicated to helping young people learn the skills necessary for successful relationships and marriages. Dr. Donald M. Joy, of Asbury Theological Seminary, described Steve as “a lieutenant wrestling in the front lines of marriages coming unglued.” Steve served as the executive director of the Columbus Marriage Coalition, a local nonprofit organization that encourages healthy marriages through education and advocacy. In November of 2005, Steve and his wife Sharon became charter members of the Marriage CoMission, an organization that serves together as an allied force to support the marriage movement in America. In 2006, Steve authored a book titled "Staying Together When an Affair Pulls You Apart," which was published by InterVarsity Press. Steve is survived by his wife Sharon of 37 years, his daughters and sons-in-law Heather and Daniel Wood, Hillary and Graham Rouse, Holly Judah, sister Darlene Stephens, sisters and brothers -in-law Linda and Barry Jackson, Rebekah and Bill Gramann, David and Sara Bonnie, Jr., mother-in-law Helen Bonnie, Aunt Marvel Ransford, Uncle Dale Bonnie, and many dear cousins, nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews. The family wishes to sincerely thank Dr. Bill Gramann, Steve’s brother-in-law and dedicated physician during his final months, and Dr. Terry Irwin, Steve’s close friend and physician for many years. Steve’s Celebration Service will be held on Sunday June 29th at UALC The Church at Mill Run, located at 3500 Mill Run Drive, Hilliard, OH 43026. The service will be held at 2:00 pm, with a reception immediately following. Speakers will include Steve’s close friends Steve Griebling and Harvey Hook. Donations in honor of Steve may be made to the Healthy Marriage Collaboration of Central Ohio at 1085 Pauline Avenue, Columbus, OH 43224 (for more information, visit HealthyMarriageOhio.org) or Upper Arlington Lutheran Church.
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