The wheels on the bus have gone round and round for school bus driver Judy Tittsworth. She continues to drive after 45 years behind the wheel. Starting when she was just 22, Judy is now 68 years young with no plans of retiring just yet.
“You know what they say, you sit, you die,” chuckled Judy. “One year just rolls into another, but I started mainly to be home with my children in the summertime and on snow days.”
As for a typical day, Judy says she gets up around 4:30 a.m. and leaves her driveway at 5:57 a.m. After picking up the first child at 6 a.m., she delivers around 45 students safely to Irving College Elementary School by 6:55 a.m., giving her plenty of time to be home by 7:20 a.m. She’s got her schedule down pat.
“In the afternoon, I usually leave the driveway about 3 p.m. and I’m back home by 4:20 p.m.,” said Judy. “It’s a good part-time job.”
Judy’s favorite part of driving a school bus is watching children grow up. In fact, she’s driven three generations, which she joked comes in handy if she needs to threaten a phone call to someone’s daddy.
“I’ve hauled children who grew up to be nurses, doctors, lawyers, and prominent nurserymen,” reminisced Judy. “I tell people that I get a lot of hugs from gray-headed men that I used to have on my bus.”
Former school bus rider Scott Walker said that not only was Judy a top-notch driver, but she made everyone feel comfortable.
“I wouldn’t ride anyone else’s bus but hers,” recalls Walker. “Judy is the only driver I remember and she still looks the same. I don’t think she ages. Every time I see Judy, I hug her because she was my buddy.”
When asked about memorable moments, she too remembers Scott. Even though Judy tried to convince him to take his art project home to his mom, he was determined to gift it to her.
“Scott was a little boy and had made a sand art bottle with all the colors layered on top of each other,” said Judy. “Before he got off the bus, he said he wanted me to have it. I kept it for a long time until the colors mixed together.”
Durham School Services operates Warren County’s school buses. Company general manager Tonia Radar can’t say enough good things about Judy.
“She’s a remarkable woman. Not only is she a great driver, but she is dependable, one of the safest drivers I have and she has the cleanest bus in the fleet,” said Radar. “I’ve never heard one negative thing about her.”
Many co-workers were also complimentary of Judy describing her as a “mentor” and “role model.” For Ruby McCormick, Judy inspired her to pursue a career as a bus driver.
“I rode her bus from Slaughter Bend Road to Irving College for 12 years,” said McCormick. “Judy’s kindness and compassion led me to apply at Durham three years ago. I grew up poor and she would give us a couple dollars for food. She’s just a great person.”
Judy said she would like to thank all the parents who have trusted her throughout the years saying she’s grateful for each day doing what she loves.
