Julia E. Landgraff

Julia Landgraff On Thursday evening, December 15, 2016, Julia Landgraff, wife of Richard "Dick" Landgraff, passed away from an apparent heart attack that was quick and apparently (hopefully) painless while talking on the phone with an old friend of the family.
Julia was born May 2, 1946 in Kaposvar, Hungary but at the age of 10 had to escape with her mother and 11 year old brother when the Hungarian Revolution was crushed upon the Russian return of extra troops and newer battle tanks. She had to duck rifle and machine gun bullets more than once during their escape. She then lived in Caracas, Venezuela for 8 years before coming to the USA and naturalized as an American citizen fluent in three languages (Hungarian, Spanish & English).
Because of what she went through, she never let a person go hungry. While on her morning jog or walking the dog, if she saw a homeless person sleeping among some ivy or in a doorway, she would race home and tell her husband to get the car keys while she made breakfast and a cup of coffee for the homeless person.
Julia was a great supporter of her husband (Dick) and many friends involved in the Battleship modernization program in the 1980's to reactivate all four Iowa class BB's. She continued to support Dick & other ex "yard birds" of LBNSY who inspected and designed modifications for the Missouri in Hawaii. She also supported the Pacific Battleship Center to bring the Iowa "home" to San Pedro. She even took measurements of compartments and recommended changes which gave her crew member status on the Iowa.
She was proud to be an American and when the Stars & Stripes that fly over their home started to tatter from the wind, she would always buy a new one. So, we have not just lost a great woman, but a great American as well.
Julia is survived by her husband, Richard A. Landgraff, daughter Kristina, 4 grandchildren (Austin, Audrey, Cody & David), sister Kinga (in Germany), niece Noriko (in Germany), niece Kenya (in Texas awaiting American citizenship) and 3 nieces still in Venezuela.
A memorial service will be held at St. Pancratius Church, 3519 St. Pancratius Place, Lakewood, CA 90712 on Wednesday morning at 10:00 AM. The Church is on the east side of Downey Ave behind Lakewood Regional Hospital on the south side of South Street. A reception will follow at St. Gregory the Great Church, 13935 Telegraph Rd, Whittier, CA 90604 The Church and reception hall is on Telegraph Road just a few blocks east of Florence Ave.
Luyben Dilday Mortuary (562) 425-6401