Julia Elizabeth Loveng passed away peacefully in her home on May 22, 2024, surrounded by her family after a long battle with cancer. She was born July 21, 1961 to Frank Reginald “Reg” Firth and Bridget “Bridie” Firth (Dowling) in Sheffield, England. Reg, Bridie and Julia moved to British Columbia, Canada, when Julia was 6 months old.

Her father was a turkey farmer in the Fraser Valley, BC, where Julia grew up with her siblings, Teresa Firth and Neil Firth. Julia spent her days on the farm riding her horse “Misty” and surrounded by animals, which is a passion she kept throughout her life. She graduated from Langley Secondary School in 1979 and worked as a secretary for Surrey Iron Works and a teller at the Bank of British Columbia. In her free time, she enjoyed driving her 1976Corvette, playing fastpitch softball and playing pool at the neighborhood pubs.

Julia met love of her life, Gunnar, in 1982 where they enjoyed skiing and traveling around BC. Gunnar took a job as a union Lineman in the United States and Julia followed in 1985, moving to San Juan Batista, CA. Gunnar and Julia were married on May 17, 1986 at the MGM Grand Hotel in Reno, Nevada. After they were married, they traveled through several states and provinces including South Dakota, Michigan, Ontario, and Nova Scotia with their black van “blackie” and wilderness travel trailer. They lived in New Haven, Connecticut, for a year and half, where they welcomed their son, Weston Loveng.

They followed Gunnar’s job as a lineman to other states, including Georgia and the bay area of California before settling in Oak Harbor, WA, in October of 1989. Julia and Gunnar were blessed with a daughter, Brittany Barnes (Loveng), in June of 1990. Julia treasured her children and loved being a stay-at-home mother while they were young.

When her kids were in school, she worked part time as an ATM technician, driving around to local banks to service ATM machines. Gunnar and Julia purchased property in 1999 where they built a beautiful farm together with a barn, shop and custom home. Julia rekindled her love for horses and animals, buying an Appaloosa named “Eagle” and doing 4-H with Brittany for 10 years. She stayed active in softball and billiards, qualifying for the US Women’s Billiards tournament. Julia loved to host people at “the farm” and always welcomed people, and animals, with open arms.

Julia was blessed with four grandchildren who she adored – Thorin, Luka, Paxton and Hartley. When not spending time with her children and grandchildren, she and Gunnar enjoyed taking cruises and going to car shows with her 1999 Pontiac Firehawk. She will be deeply missed and never forgotten, especially by her family. She is survived by her husband Gunnar, son Weston (Anna), daughter Brittany (Christopher), grandsons Thorin, Luka, and Paxton, granddaughter Hartley, sister Teresa (Ben), brother Neil, sister-in-law Laura (Renee), nieces Kelsey and Kayla, and many wonderful cousins and extended family around the world.

A memorial service will be held at Wallin-Stucky Funeral Home in Oak Harbor, WA, on June 5th at 1pm followed by a celebration of life at the Elks Lodge in Oak Harbor.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Whidbey Animals Improvement Foundation (WAIF) would be welcome. If you would like to share a memory or photo of Julia, please email: loveng.brittany@gmail.com