Julian W. Dees

Julian Worth Dees (JW), 87, passed away on Saturday, November 28, 2020. JW was born in Henderson, North Carolina on February 20, 1933.  He married Bernita June Funk on August 29, 1954. Most of his childhood was spent in New Bern, NC where he began the path to his career.  At a young age, he had a newspaper route and worked at a TV and radio shop learning about electronics until he went to college. After attending Presbyterian Junior College in Maxton, NC for a year, he graduated from Tri-State College in Fort Wayne, Indiana, then earned his Master's Degree in Electrical Engineering at the University of Cincinnati.

From 1955-1960 he worked as a microwave engineer at IT&T Laboratories in Fort Wayne designing microwave components and systems.  For 11 years, he worked at Martin Marietta Corporation in Orlando, FL as program manager for the first millimeter wave transmitter/receiver to be place aboard a satellite which circled the earth much longer than expected. Then he worked as Associate Vice President for Research & Director of Office of Contract Administration at Georgia Tech Institute of Technology until he retired in 1998.  JW was a registered professional engineer in Georgia.  He belonged to numerous professional organizations, held a patent on microwave detectors, had 35 articles published and received many honors and awards during his career.

When JW moved to Georgia, he built a barbecue pit in his backyard and starting cooking whole pigs for friends, family and Georgia Tech Co-workers.  Word spread and he was asked to judge the Georgia Statewide Championship Cookoff.  Then his barbecue judging hobby took off in many different areas of the country.

JW is survived by two sons Mark Dees (Barbara) of Cumming, GA and Greg Dees (Sonia) of Charleston, SC. and a daughter Sandy Anthony (Richard) lives in Leland, NC.  He has three grandsons and a granddaughter; Greg's children, Justin lives in Charleston, SC and Stephanie is attending University of Georgia in Athens, GA.  Sandy's children, Chad Anthony lives in Kansas City, MO and Brad Anthony lives in Sebastian, FL.  JW's surviving brother, Frank Dees lives in Snellville, GA. and sister-in-law, Jo Funk also lives in Snellville. JW is also survived by nephews; Lee (Susan), Mitch (Carol), Scott (Pam) and Kyle and nieces Loraine (Alex), Denise and Darla (Buddy).  There are many grandnephews and grandnieces who he also cherished.

In lieu of flowers the family request donations to either the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society https://donate.lls.org/lls/donate or the Alzheimer Foundation https://www.alz.org/