Kern County CA Obituary Project Obituaries.....McColloch Downs, Julianna December 22 2004 ********************************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/obits/obitsca/obitsca.htm ********************************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: K T bluewolf@onemain.com December 28, 2004, 9:10 pm The Bakersfield Californian Julianna McColloch Downs Services: Tues., Dec. 28, 10 a.m. Julianna Downs, beloved wife, mother, sister, grandmother, and great- grandmother, passed away on December 22, 2004, at the age of 89. Julianna was an exceptional person who touched many lives. To her family, she provided unwavering love and devotion. Family was the most important focus in Juliannas life. She was always there to share special moments and privide support and comfort to every member of her family. To her friends, she was a gracious companion and hostess, demonstrating genuine warmth and generosity. Gatherings at Juliannas house were happy, lively events. Everyone felt welcome, and no one left hungry due to her culinary expertise. In all aspects of her life, she followed a strong work ethic, giving her best effort in all tasks. Her artistic skill was evidenced in her many fine works of needlepoint and her beautiful garden. She cultivated exquisite roses, her favorite flower. Julianna entered the world on August 18, 1915, the second oldest in a family of five sisters born to Ralph and Jessie McColloch in the tiny community of Viola, Tennessee. Ralph worked hard to provide for his wife and family, operating a hardware store and later a flour mill. The hard times of the Depression years gripped the McColloch family, and promises of opportunity in California motivated the family to move to Beverly Hills in 1929 when Julianna was 14 years old. The five sisters experienced the cultural adjustment of growing up in a rural setting and coping with the challenges of moving to an emerging movie society. In 1930, the family moved to Tehachapi where Juliannas father obtained state employment. During her years at Tehachapi High School, she met William Bill Downs. They were married in 1933. The following year, their only child, James was born. The family operated a variety store until opportunity for advancement was offered in Bakersfield where they moved in 1944. While Juliannas husband, Bill, advanced from a number of jobs to become manager of the Kern Schools Federal Credit Union, Julianna began a long and rewarding career as a retail sales employee for Smiths Bakery. Her employment at Smiths Bakery surpassed two decades. Julianna and Bill enjoyed many rewarding years of making friends nationwide through the credit union and United Commercial Travelers until they retired in 1975. They moved to the oceanside community of Los Osos, California and traveled extensively throughout the world. They returned to Bakersfield in 1986 to be near family and enjoyed membership with SIRS, a club of retired men devoted to fellowship and traveling. Juliannas interests also included gardening. She nurtured a home landscape of beautiful roses and other flowers. She also attended Fruitvale Community Church which evolved to the Riverlakes Community Church. She was proud to have been baptized as a young girl in a small creek near their home in Tennessee. Julianna and Bill enjoyed 67 years of marriage until Bills death in September 2000. Their caring and devotion to each other served as an inspiration to all who knew them. Julianna was also preceded in death by her sisters, Bobbye Bell, Mary Wallis and Jane Young. She is survived by her son, James and his wife, Wanda; sister, Frances Blok; grandson, Steve and his wife, Terri and granddaughters, Laura Downs and Julia Rinaldi and her husband, Robert, all of Bakersfield; six great- grandchildren, Megan and David Downs, Anthony, Alexander and Julia Anna Rinaldi and Amy Kamal and her husband, Hatem; numerous nieces and nephews. Memorial services for Julianna will be held Tuesday, December 28, beginning at 10:00 a.m., at Greenlawn Southwest Mortuary Chapel, 2739 Panama Ln. with grandson, Steve Downs, Pastor of Riverlakes Community Church, officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Bakersfield Rescue Mission or Bakersfield Homeless Center. Greenlawn Southwest Mortuary Funeral Directors Additional Comments: Volunteer submission - No relation to deceased. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ca/kern/obits/gob4120mccolloc.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/caobfiles/ File size: 4.7 Kb