Meet Julius Barrow Papa. He's Heath's grandfather. He was born March 23, 1919. He served a mission in what was then called the Northern States mission where he met his wife Leona. The story goes like this. Julius was near the end of his mission and was companions with Leona's brother who was the only member of his family at the time. He had helped teach Leona and her family the gospel. He felt something when he was with her so he talked to the mission president and it was agreed that he would be able to go on a date with Leona 1 week before his release. Back then things were different. Elder Papa didn't know if or when he would be able to return to date Leona. One month after his return he proposed over the phone. Leona's answer was, "You'll have to come back here (Michigan) to find out." He did and she said yes. They were married December 19, 1941. In his journals he lovingly refers to her has his sweetheart. Six weeks after they were married Julius was off to World War II which took him to Africa and Italy. He was gone about 2 1/2 years. After the war he did not speak much of his experience. Julius and Leona had 4 boys, the youngest of which is Rex, Heath's Father
He was a Bishop and then the president of the Gridley, CA stake. He was called to serve as a mission president in the Anchorage, Alaska mission in 1981. When he returned he was called to serve as the 2nd counselor in the Temple Presidency of the Oakland temple. He was set apart by President Gordon B. Hinckley. Three years later he received a phone call from the second counselor in the first presidency, Thomas S. Monson. He was then called to be temple President. He kept a record of ordinance workers he set apart (33) and sealings that he performed (791) which included names and dates.
There are a lot of great stories in his journals. So many that I couldn't pick just one to share. He writes of serving his family and attending little league games of grandchildren. He writes of some terrible things that were happening in the world and says in 1990, "People are really beginning to say that the second coming is not far away." I wonder what he would think if he could see the world today.
One of my favorite lines in his journal is "By the way I am not the best speller as you can see." It makes me feel like he was humble and that he knew I would be reading his journal (or someone would). Also, I'm with you Grandpa Papa, I am not the best speller either. :)
While reading his journals I've been grateful for the opportunity to get to know this great man.
Julius B. Papa
March 23, 1919 - October 28, 2000
(Uncle Weldon, if there is any information in this post that is incorrect please email corrections to emailerinp@gmail.com)thanks :)
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9 comments:
Loved this post. The Papas are an amazing family and those who know them are blessed because of it.
such a handsome couple. nice job erin. grandpa papa has left an amazing legacy with his sons and now his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Grandpa was an incredible man. We think of him often. Thanks for sharing Erin, that was awesome.
Very nice tribute to a wonderful man who left a powerful legacy of love and inspiration for all who have come after him. Being the first Papa boy of the great grandson generation we gave our first son the middle name of Julius after him. We did so as a tribute to Grandpa Papa and with the hope that our son would grow to honor the name and become a man of God even as Grandpa Papa is.
Jared
He was my mission president in Alaska and I consider it one of the greatest opportunities of my life to get know President Papa and his sweetheart.
Uncle Julius is what I called him. My mother, Rosa L. Papa Rizor was his sister. All my life they lived near me. First was west of Yuba City, CA., His parents lived in Yuba City at the time. Lived one block west of Plumas Street, on Walnut Street, just south of the Sutter Theater, only one in the city at the time. Still there, live acting done there. In 1955, December the levy brock & the Feather River flooded Yuba City. Water came to one inch below the top of the threshold on the front door. The living room furniture was pilled on top of the piano. They had a basement which was not closed in & the water filled it up. They lost all the can & bottle food, which was at the time over a thousand dollars. I was 8 years old at the time & lived in Gridley, CA., 17 miles north of Yuba City on state Hwy 99. Could fill pages of experiences Uncle Julius & Aunt Leona. I loved them very much and all of their boys. The Spirit kept me coming back as often as I could. In the 1960's they all moved to Oroville, CA. Uncle Julius moved up with P.G.& E. and became a marketing rep & vacation manager in the old Colgate District, His father had worked for the same company as a trouble Shooter. On call 24 hours sent to emergences & farmers to turn on their water pumps for irrigation. Time for dinner, will come back again. This summer is Julius and Leona Papa Family Reunion, in Folsom, CA. I live 4 miles east of the Sutter/Buttes smallest Mt., range in the world. Located in the middle of the Sacramento Valley. Rice, Walnut, Almonds, Prunes, peaches animal feed are grown here. My name is Carl W. Rizor the only child of Cliffred & Rosa Rizor who both passed in 1998, 3 months apart. I am 71 years old living here with my wife of 30 plus years, Nancy L. Mitchell Rizor. She is a nurse of 41 years I am retired. Two years ago we had to evacuate north to Chico, CA., because of the possible destruction of the Oroville Dam, which was a false alarm, but forced over 200,000 humans to leave. Then this past year the area was hit by wildfires caused by high winds, dry forests & faulty electric power lines the blew down. North in Redding Ca.& 30 miles northeast in Paradise, Ca. Making ash out of 14,000 homes & 260 business. These fires all could have been avoided. Power company never kept their equipment & cleaning up the forest floor, also removing all the dead trees because of the droughts. The power company has filed for bankruptcy, facing lawsuits amounting to twelve billion dollars from this one fire alone. The company P.G.& E. They are much different when Julius & his father Julius worked for the.
Oh How I Love These Two
My father and mother went on at least one date either at the end of Dad's mission or shortly thereafter. Mother told me that Gladys, her sister, was their chaperone on their date/s. I'm the second son of Julius B. and Leona Papa.
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