Our beloved Julie lived many
lives in her adventurous and courageous lifetime. Born Ruby
Joyce Wilbar in 1940, the oldest of six children who primarily
grew up in Tecumseh, Michigan. Julie's extraordinary beauty and
personality garnered her a ticket to Hollywood from Jerry Lewis
for winning a national modelling contest. Jerry cast. Julie in
two of her first movies, including "The Nutty
Professor". Itwas the beginning of a multi-faceted
career in film opposite the likes of Elvis Presley and Frankie
Avalon. The star of a CBS sitcom called "Good Morning
World" with Goldie Hawn, a soap opera vixen in " A
Return to Peyton Place", an Emmy nominee
for her complex character in the soap opera "Capitol",
over two hundred television guest appearances from
"Bonanza" to "Star Trek", a Drama Critic
Circle Award winner in Arthur Miller's "After the
Fall", a Country Western singer (recording in her 40's), a
college graduate in her early 50's, an active member of
"Women in Film", a double ovarian cancer survivor, a
post- menopausal bride and mother in her recurring role on
"Beverly Hills 90210", a celebrity autograph
convention favourite, a family tree historian, a spiritual
seeker as well as a tireless crisis counsellor, and advocate and
public speaker for the rights of abused women.
Julie with SIster Janice -1946
But
for those of us who were fortunate enough to know Julie well,
she will be remembered most fondly as a one-of-a-kind-life-loving- fun-and-funny-kick-ass friend, aunt, sister
and daughter. She knew her riches were in her friendships and
family ties. She cultivated them and nurtured them -many for
decades - with fierce loyalty, love, honesty, support, laughter,
compassion and FUN. So it was no surprise to anyone when her
friends and family rallied around to throw Julie a wildly
successful benefit, raising thousands of dollars to support her
when she was first diagnosed with cancer. She celebrated her diverse circle of friends with the same level of passion, curiosity
and playfulness that she lived her life. We are so pleased that her last couple of years were among her
happiest. She had corresponded with and/ or met hundreds of family members from all over the country
from her extensive family tree search. She had just returned from MC-ing a huge Elvis Convention in
Memphis, as well as a large autograph show, and recently united with long standing close friends at
her 45th high school reunion. Julie is survived by her brothers James Wilbar of La Mirada, California and Robert Wilbar
of Tecumseh, Michigan., and two sisters, Liza Phairow of Ashland, Oregon and Barbara Schemer of Clinton, Michigan. One sister, Janice Machan, preceded her to the pearly gates. The family asks that any donations be given to the cause of aiding battered women and their children. Her family of friends want to add. .."Yes, darling Julie, you will be DEARLY MISSED."
People in the photographs : Upper Left: Julie, Jim Wilbar
(Julie's younger brother)
Upper Right: Julie, Candice Hincks
(performed the memorial service), Betsy Randle, Minda Burr, Flo
Lawrence (all long-time close friends)
Center Left and Right: Julie (studio
shots)
Lower Left: Julie, Dogs, Elvis Lower Right: Julie, Joel Wachbrit
