September 1, 1936 to the late Francis J Keating and Nellie Georgia Beseau Griffin.
Julia grew up in Topeka and Wamego, KS, and moved as a child to Rifle, Colorado, living at the foot of
Mount Evans. As a teenager she moved to the Rio Grande Valley and then to Victoria in 1960. She
married Harvey Lee Williams, Sr, father of Kenneth and Carolyn, in 1955; Charles VanZandt, father of
Aaron and Heath, in 1961; and James Stluka in 1987.
Julia was a hard-working and independent woman. She worked in the fields of the Rio Grande Valley as a
teen picking cotton and fruit, flagging crop dusters, and sewing silks for airplane wings. After graduation
from Sharyland High School, she moved to Abilene to work for the Timex Watch Factory. During her life,
she sold insurance for several companies, sold produce door-to-door, cashiered at Krogers, sold jewelry
at Walmart, and was an independent consultant for Sarah Coventry and Celebrity Fashion Jewelry. Later
in life, she crafted and sold her own jewelry as Julia’s Creations. Her favorite hobbies were sewing,
cooking, flower and vegetable gardening, raising farm animals, making jewelry, and traveling. She was
very proud of being a lifetime member of VFW Ladies Auxiliary in Victoria for many years, holding
various leadership positions.
Julia is survived by her children, Kenneth (Palmira) VanZandt and Carolyn (Mike) Bridges of Victoria,
Aaron (Angela) VanZandt of Iron Station, NC, and Heath (Debbie) VanZandt of Robstown; grandchildren,
Meagan Arnold and Celeste Arnold, of Tiverton, RI, Lyle Bales Jr., of Norfolk, VA, Heather VanZandt and
Amanda VanZandt of Corpus Christi, and Jordan VanZandt, of Dallas, NC; 8 great-grandchildren,
sister-in-law Marie Simon of Rockport, and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by
her parents; husbands, Harvey Lee Williams, Sr. and James Stluka; brothers, William “Bill” Simon and his
wife Barbara and Laurence “Larry” Simon; an infant son and granddaughter, Briana Paige VanZandt.
Visitation will be held on Friday, July 12, 2024 9-10 am, immediately followed by funeral service at 10
am, all at Colonial Funeral Home. Interment will immediately follow at Memory Gardens Cemetery.
Pallbearers and honorary pallbearers include: Kenneth VanZandt, Mike Bridges, Aaron VanZandt, Heath
VanZandt, Claude Bridges, Jaime Ortega, Ray Keck, Gilbert Perez, Gregory Sharp, Lyle Bales, Jr., and
Jordan VanZandt.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Ladies Auxiliary of VFW Post 4146 of Victoria, TX or to
Adopt a Pet of Victoria, TX.
Words of comfort, condolences and fond memories may be shared with the
family at www.colonialfuneralhomevictoria.com.
