On December 18th, 2021, Julia M. Hildreth passed away quietly with her family by her side in Kansas City, Kansas. Her life was personified by family, education, a passion for the arts, and selflessly supporting a spouse through 28+ years of military service. She leaves us with a legacy of three grown children and 11 grandchildren.
Born in Louisville, Kentucky on December 21st, 1935, Julia May (Krieger) Hildreth was the daughter of Marshall and Ann Krieger. While in school, she was both a cheerleader and very active in numerous dance and drama productions. After graduating from Eastern High School in Jefferson County, Kentucky, Julia attended the University of Kentucky, where she was a member of Chi Omega sorority. She went on to graduate from the University of Louisville with a teaching degree in 1958.
Julia married Edward E. Hildreth, Jr. in Louisville, Kentucky in 1961 at Saint Paul’s Methodist Church. Ed was a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point. Julia was an active mother, and with Ed, they instilled strong family values in their three children, Ted, Debbie, and Jenni. Julia provided growth experiences by teaching, encouraging team sports, mentoring youth, and continually stressing education and the love of the arts.
In 1984, Julia and Ed retired to Huntsville, Alabama where their children all graduated high school. Julia was a prominent leader within the Huntsville community. She was an active member of Trinity Methodist Church and the Cosmopolitan Club. She followed her love for the arts by serving as a foundation director of the Huntsville Broadway Theatre League. Additionally, during President George H. W. Bush’s 1000 Points of Light national program, Julia was the administration’s advisor to Huntsville’s environmental conservation efforts.
Julia lost her husband to cancer in 1996 but continued to follow her interests in her church, musical choreography, and painting. In 2010, she relocated to Overland Park, Kansas to be near family. For the next decade she continued to focus on family, watching grandchildren graduate college, attending family weddings, and traveling. It was in Kansas where Julia’s love of painting flourished. She created over 100 paintings, making them available to various galleries and clients.
She will always be remembered as the epitome of class, compassion, and selflessness. Julia is survived by her three children, Ted Hildreth, Debbie Nimitz, and Jenni Daniel; son-in-law, Vince Daniel, 11 grandchildren; and her sister, Barbara Tumperi, of Newnan, Georgia.
A graveside service will be held at 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, December 28 at Maple Hill Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the American Red Cross, Kentucky Region. Their mission includes disaster relief, service to the armed forces, health and safety training and the Home Fire Campaign.
