Judy Delton, best known for her Pee Wee Scouts series, died suddenly and unexpectedly of a blood infection on New Year's Eve. Her friend, Amy Timberlake, who won a Judy Delton Scholarship, and spent a week in July living and working with Judy in her St. Paul, Minnesota home, writes,

Judy knew what she taught. She wrote over 200 books--the Kitty series, the Angel series, and the Pee Wee Scouts (7.5 million sold)--were her most popular titles. She took risks,battling anyone who tried to stop her. In 1971, without much writing experience and as a single parent supporting four children, Judy decided to become a writer. Typical Judy, she succeeded. She wasn't perfect though, and over a bottle of wine and good take-out, Judy laughed and whooped over her life stories, liberally sprinkling her inconsistencies the way a master chef uses black pepper to add a little heat.

Memorials in Judy Delton's name can be sent to the Children's Literature Research Collection at the Kerlan Collection. Checks should be marked, "Judy Delton Memorial," and made payable to the University of Minnesota. Please mail to: Kerlan Collection, 113 Andersen Library, 222 21st Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55455.