Julia Johnson Rudolph

Julia Johnson Rudolph On Thursday, September 17th, 2025, Julia Johnson Rudolph passed away at the age of 80. Julia was born on March 31st, 1945, in Paducah, KY. She graduated from Tilghman High and then attended St. Mary’s School of Nursing in Evansville, Indiana, from which she graduated in 1966. After graduating from nursing school, she lived and worked in Memphis, Franklin, Fairview, Newbern, and Dyersburg, TN. 

Julia was a woman of diverse interests. An excellent cook of Southern cuisine, she made her “Chicken-and-Dumplings” with love. She also enjoyed painting and crafts. Whether homemade Easter baskets or painted jeans, she always had a project to work on. She loved nature and animals. Even when she lived in Memphis, she made sure to take her children to a dairy farm for fresh milk. She often surprised the kids with bunnies, ducks, or baby chicks on Easter. She also rode horses and adored her cats and dogs. Julia was a talented singer and musician and wanted those around her to join in. She would even use bags of candy to bribe her children to learn to sing in three-part harmony on road trips. She served God by singing in the church choir for decades. Upon retirement from nursing and being a full-time mom, she taught voice, violin, and piano to children in Dyersburg, TN, and even wrote a Christian children’s musical for her students to perform in local churches. 

Julia was preceded in death by her father, William Carey Johnson; her mother, Johnnie Lou Johnson; and her brother, James William Johnson (Jim). She is survived by her son, Carey James Balboa; her daughter, Loribeth Jinkins Dunn, son-in-law, Christopher Ray Dunn and grandson, Christian Elizjah Dunn; her son Matthew Parker Rudolph, his wife, Erin Rudolph, and grandchildren Lorelei Rudolph and James Patrick Premo; her sister- in- law, Gail Johnson, her nieces and nephews: Shane Johnson, Garrett Loftin, Katie Loftin Stewart, Laura Loftin Forrester, Emily Loftin Thomison, Laura French Barton, Justin French, Allison Murphy, Olivia Orendorff, and Miranda Kennedy.

Joint Celebration of Life services for Mrs. Rudolph and her husband, John Gordon Rudolph, who died on Monday, September 22, 2025, will be held at 3:00 PM on Saturday, September 27, 2025, at the Newbern Methodist Church. Officiating this service will be Mr. Jerry Leach and Mr. David Via. Visitation will be held on Saturday from 2:00 PM until 3:00 PM at Newbern Methodist Church.

 To share condolences online: Johnsonwilliamsfuneralhome.com Send condolences to: Matthew Rudolph 521 Golden Lake Loop St. Augustine, FL 32084

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