Born February 23, 1941 in Sault Ste. Marie MI to Richard Kirkpatrick and Ethel Benedick, Julia spent her youth split between the Upper Peninsula and the Flint area, graduating from LaSalle High in St. Ignace MI in 1959. She married Lester L. Wamsley, Jr. in 1963 and moved to Columbiaville MI in 1968 where she spent the next 52 years working and raising her family. Julia worked at the USPS in Flint in the late 1960’s, was a homemaker for over 25 years, drove a school bus for LakeVille Community Schools in the mid-1980’s, and worked as the office manager for her husband’s consulting business in the 1990’s. Julia was a voracious reader for most of her life and was involved in the Friends of the Otter Lake Library. She also enjoyed listening to country music and watching any TV program with Tom Selleck, from Magnum P.I. to Bluebloods, including his “reverse mortgage” infomercials. Julia was an avid crafter and enjoyed making hobby horses with her sister for Michigan’s Renaissance Faires. At the end of her life Julia most enjoyed spending time with her children, their spouses, and her grandchildren. Julia moved to Dade City FL in March 2020 to live out her golden years in the Sunshine State.
Julia is preceded in death by her husband Les (2005), and leaves behind her three children: Joe (Michelle) of Grand Blanc MI, Karen Woerner (Eric) of Swartz Creek MI, Steve (Lindsay) of Otter Lake MI, and 7 grandchildren: Jaclyn Wamsley, Patrick Woerner, Jillian Wamsley, Katherine Woerner, Ian Wamsley, Nathan Wamsley, and Sarah Madison (Maddie) Wamsley.
Julia also leaves behind siblings Wendy Ehle of Rudyard MI, Laurie (Mike) Katafiasz of Warren OH, Paula (Doug) Smith of Allegan MI, and Eric Dietz of Lewiston MI, her Aunt June Diehl of Flint MI, and scores of family & friends from Michigan to Florida.
Per her request there will be no funeral service, cremation has taken place, and details on Julia’s celebration of life will be forthcoming by the family.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.9.5