Julia Aguilar Jimenez

Julia Aguilar Jimenez 1927-2018 Julia Jimenez, age 91, went to the Lord’s House on October 27, 2018.    She and her brothers and sisters survived the Great Depression during which time they lost their parents at a very young age. She had to become mother to her siblings to help feed them and guide them.  Her strength and fortitude truly make her an example of The Greatest Generation.   In 1944 at the age of 19, she married her husband, Manuel Jimenez, who introduced her to the Church.  They picked cotton together, and later Manuel worked as a Sulphur miner at Texas Gulf until he retired 30 years later. They were married 51 years until he passed away. They had only one daughter, Debbie Jimenez, who learned to work hard, picking cotton side by side with her parents.  They were very proud when she graduated from The University of Texas at Austin.   Julia was a life-long member of Bethel Church in Wharton, TX. Many knew her as a Sunday School teacher in her younger years.  She also represented her Church as a delegate to their Conventions, where she traveled across the country and gave reports.  She amazed most people with her ability to read and write Spanish and English, and speak to large audiences, even though she never had a formal education. Her abilities were truly a gift from God. She also volunteered making tamales and plates for the Church until she was 88.   Julia loved gardening and tending to her fruit trees at her home in Wharton.  Most of all, she loved people, and they loved her in return.   She was able to mow her own lawn and do her own weed-eating until he was almost 89. At that time, she went to go live near San Francisco, California with her only daughter, Debbie Jimenez, and Debbie’s loving husband, Fred Raine, who were honored to have her with them during the sunset of her life.   She spent every Thanksgiving and Christmas with her loving sisters, Mary Jimenez, and Margaret Landa, and the rest of our wonderful family in Beaumont, Texas.   She was able to see her home on Emily St. one last time in May, 2017, before Hurricane Harvey invaded it.  Her very dear niece, Tencha Compian, was able to host us then.   Julia is survived by her daughter, Debbie Jimenez in California, sisters Mary Jimenez, Margaret Landa in Beaumont Texas, and Antonia Maldonado in Kansas.   Because her sister Mary, married Julia’s husband's brother, Larry Jimenez, Julia was especially close with her niece, Esther Biano, and recently departed niece, Stella Lopez, as well as nephews Larry and Paul Jimenez of Beaumont, Texas. Their extended families were always welcoming.   She appreciated prayers on the phone from her nephew Roy Jimenez.  He and niece Vera Hebert are son and daughter of her late brother-in-law, Roy Jimenez, Sr, and his wife, Josefina Jimenez. Again, their extended families gave much love.   She was also very close with her departed brother Domingo’s family – nieces Tencha Compian, Anita Vaught, Molly Aguilar, Ofelia Jackson, and recently departed Cecilia Aguilar, also nephews Jose Angel Aguilar and departed Luis Aguilar, and sister-in-law Aurora Aguilar of El Campo Texas. Their extended families were a great welcoming committee as well.   She leaves behind many loving nieces and nephews in Kansas and North Texas from her sister Antonia Maldonado.  She has extended family from her other departed Yanes siblings – Manuela, George, San Juana, Jose Angel and Tomas.   Her close friends in Wharton were like family to her.  She had many dear friends across Texas and other states which she knew through her Council of Latin American Churches, CLADIC.  She always looked forward to re-connecting with her friends at Church events. Many remained close friends and kept the relationships alive by phone. Her family would like to thank everyone for their kindness throughout the years.   Funeral services will be held at Wharton Funeral Home, 515 Boling Highway.  Friday, November 2nd at 5 p.m., Visitation with the family will be held.  Prayer Service will follow at 7 p.m., directed by Bethel Church Pastor, Dolores Perez.  Funeral Service will be held at the Funeral home Saturday morning, November 3rd, at 10 a.m., with burial proceeding immediately afterward at Evergreen Memorial Park, 3511 Alabama Road.   In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Julia’s Church: Templo Bethel, P.O. Box 885, Wharton, TX 77488.   Funeral services are under the direction of Wharton Funeral Home.  Condolences may be left at whartonfuneralhome.com