Parishioner Spotlight: Julia Walker
Spotlight on Julia Walker
Hometown: Abingdon, Virginia.
Family: Husband Tony, son Bryan, daughter Catherine and granddaughter Blair and grandson Silas.
Profession: Music teacher
Church affiliation: Lifelong Episcopalian
Did you know early on that you wanted a music career?
Yes, everyone in my family played something. My band director started me on trumpet in 7th grade, and I really took to it. My grandfather played trumpet. My mother was a great influence. She was the choral director at my high school, piano teacher and the organist/choir director at our church. I thought I would be a professional musician. I was pretty full of myself until I went to Eastern Kentucky University where everyone was good. I became a public school music teacher.
What did you teach?
Elementary vocal music for nearly 12 years. I was a singer, too, but it wasn’t my forte. I stopped teaching in 1981 when our son was born. I went back to substitute teaching when my daughter went to kindergarten. I have been a piano teacher for the past 10 years.
What brought you to Cincinnati?
My husband’s job. We moved here in 1994.
How did you end up at All Saints?
A friend, Dottie Buchholtz, lead me to All Saints. That was about 20 years ago. Her husband had been the priest at All Saints from 1949 to 1961. I immediately felt at home. I’ve done a number activities over the years, a spiritual book club and different programs. I got to know people better and loved that. I served on a search committee once for two, very long years!
I also know you’re the official All Saints note writer.
Yes, I enjoy keeping in touch with people at church that way. I wrote to Queen Elizabeth when Prince Philip died, and I did get an acknowledgment from her staff, which was very nice. Writing is something I can still do.
I know you don’t like to focus on your PLS (Primary Lateral Sclerosis), but a few questions to let people better understand the disease and your life. First, exactly what is PLS and how long have you been living with it?
It’s a chronic, progressive neuromuscular disease. My symptoms started in 1988, but it took three years to get a diagnosis. It’s not a diagnosis of death, but progressive disability. I didn’t have to stop everything at once, but over time, I had to give up playing tennis, the trumpet and teaching, my three t’s I loved. My tongue is affected and gets in the way of singing. The musical loss had been huge. No one ever asks me about it, but I welcome questions.
How has your faith helped you?
The PLS is a blessing and a curse. Anytime someone has a chronic disease, it can be very lonely, especially if it’s a rare one that few people understand. The speech aspect makes people uncomfortable, and they sometimes assume that something is wrong with my brain, which is the worst part. It’s a blessing because it has forced me to slow down and focus on what is really important. It’s brought me closer to God.
So, I ask this of everyone I talk to: What is something that most people don’t know about you?
I once played trumpet on national TV. If people want to know more, they’ll have to ask me!