Julia Marie Hillen

Julia Marie Hillen passed away Thursday, October 8th at Poudre Valley Hospital. One-hundred-years old Julia was the beloved matriarch of five generations. She was born in Fort Collins, Colorado, to Hilda Aldridge Anderson [nee Hammond] and her husband John Orville Anderson on February 13, 1926.

Charisma, cleverness, and a curious nature explains Julia’s popularity and the admiration of so many life-long friends. As a girl she was a member of both Rainbow Girls and Job’s Daughters, her junior high drama and radio clubs, and in high school the magic club and the Round Table Cabinet. The Coloradoan social column reported on her attending numerous parties and dances. She spent many of her early summers in Grand Lake, Colorado with her Aunt Ruth and Uncle Tom Fritz. It was there she was first introduced to fly fishing; a sport she enthusiastically enjoyed until her late 80’s.

Julia was in the Fort Collins High School class of 1944, until her uncle’s activation to service following the attack on Pearl Harbor necessitated that she and her mother move to Bakersfield, California, to care for her aged grandparents, Schyler A. and Ella M. Hammond. After graduating from Kern County Union High School, she attended Bakersfield Junior College.

On April 7, 1946, Julia married Captain Robert Henry Hillen at the Methodist Little Chaple of Sacred Memories, in Bakersfield. Bob was also raised in Fort Collins and he first noticed Julia at the city park swimming pool when she was about 15, and joked to friends that he would marry her someday. They made their first home back in Fort Collins where three daughters were born to the young couple.

As Bob’s career with the Federal Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife progressed, the family moved to several western states. While in Sandy, Utah, between 1955 and 1963 Julia’s leadership skills and social compassion flourished. As an active member and a fund-raising event chairman with the Salt Lake City Young Women’s Christian Association, Julia’s organizational talent and people skills were recognized, and she was chosen several times to represent her YWCA as their national conference delegate.

When in the summer of 1966, a promotion opened for Bob in Fort Collins, the family enthusiastically returned to their hometown. That fall Julia started a clerical job in the accounting department at Aqua Tec Corporation. Within a few years, through her intelligence and dedicated work ethic she advanced to be the manager of the statistical department.

Julia also rekindled old friendship by joining the Pioneer Association and FCHS 50-year Club. She continued her family’s Masonic affiliation through membership in the Order of the Eastern Star and the Order of the White Shrine of Jerusalem. Three times serving as Worthy High Priestess for Galilee Shrine #13, and two terms on the Supreme Objective Board, the national Shrine’s five-member philanthropy committee.

Over her later years, Julia enjoyed and supported membership in Centennial State Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution; the P.E.O. Sisterhood; Red Hats; Larimer County Genealogy Society; and the Arabian Horse Association. She and Bob were also active with Trout Unlimited.

Julia’s greatest life-long commitment was to love and support her daughters: Virginia June Plouff, Katherine Ann Hillen Renfroe, and Elizabeth Rose Allen. Surviving Julia are four grandchildren: Eric Plouff, Julia Marie Mackey (Eric Mackey), Lauren Michelle Judge (Matthew C. Judge), and David Matthew Hillen Renfroe (Kacey K. Renfroe); eight wonderful great-grandchildren: Brandon Plouff, Megan Plouff, Joseph McKey (Sara), Jason Mackay (Taryn), Shauna Mackay, Hadley Renfroe, Oliver Renfroe, and Roosevelt Renfroe; and proudly one great-great-grandson Arlo Walker McKey. Family was the constant joy in Julia’s life.

After 65-years of marriage to Bob, Julia was widowed in 2011. She was also proceeded in death by her dear brother John A. “Bud” Anderson in 1996, and her much-loved grandson Robert Andrew Hillen Renfroe in 2009.

In the 100 years that Julia graced this earth, the lives of her family, numerous friends, and countless strangers were enriched. The memory of this remarkable woman will remain cherished in so many hearts.

Julia's urn will be buried at Roselawn Cemetery, Fort Collins, alongside her husband.