Condolences

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  11/15/2025

  Mike Bowen

  I first met Julie in 1965 when she was dating my good friend Doug at W-L High School. Over the next 30 years until Doug passed away in 1994 our families remained in close contact. Back when our kids were young, we frequently took short vacations together using my old 9-passenger Oldsmobile station-wagon with Doug and I in the front, Julie and my wife, Beth, in the middle seats, and Angie, and our kids, Laine and Blake, in the "way back". On one such trip we traveled to Virginia Beach and stayed three or four days at a budget motel, the Idlewhyle Inn". As I recall it was late in the season, and most of our stay the weather was cold and dreary. Fortunately, the Inn included a heated pool that we seemed to own exclusively since there were so few other guests. At the time neither of our kids could swim, but Julie working with them over the next four days made remarkable progress. We've always said it was Julie who taught Laine and Blake to swim. She was an excellent teacher. I think it was her patience and genuine kindness that made her so effective with children. The Inn also had its own dining space. Each morning, we would go there for our breakfast. You would order and the cook would prepare the food on a grill as you watched. The food was excellent, but the cook seemed to work in slow motion, preparing each guest's meal one at a time. He worked alone and it often took hours before we and other guests were fed. I remember Julie and all of us laughing about this at the time and in future years referred to the "idlewhyle effect" whenever we experienced slow service at a restaurant. Julie was a supportive daughter to her parents, a caring sister to her siblings, a devoted wife to Doug and Steve, and a loving and attentive mother and grandmother. She was sweetness personified. We miss you sweet Julie. Godspeed, Rest in Peace. Mike Bowen

• 06/30/2025

  Joy Thompson

  Julie was one in a million. The best friend a person could ever have. She was a bright light in my life and the lives of all who knew her. I treasure the memories we shared over the past 52 years. All my love to the entire family. Wade and I are here for you, whatever the need. Joy Thompson