Julian Papp

Julian Papp, a longtime resident of Winston-Salem, passed away on Aug 21, 2024, at Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Home. He had just turned 89, a few years shy of his goal of 100.

Julian had a life worthy of an epic movie with a happy ending, which started in Kisvarda, a small town in Hungary. As an only child to the town’s milliner, he had an idyllic childhood with days filled with trips to the bakery to get his favorite ice cream, climbing fruit trees, and running through the orchards with his dog, all of which he reminisced about often, even in his final months as his memory faded.

As a young adult, Julian spent his days focusing on his education in Budapest, and while there he was drafted by the Hungarian army. As political unrest started to tarnish his beloved country in 1956 during the Hungarian Revolution, he and his parents decided to leave everything behind and flee to a better life in the United States. Their journey was full of peril, but thankfully his parents had the means to bribe officials (twice) to spare their lives, and with bullets coming within inches of them as they crossed the border, they finally made it to Austria, where they were met by the Red Cross. Julian spent over a year in Austria while he was interrogated and vetted for his immigration papers. During that time, he worked hard to save money and learn the language of his soon to be new country. He also met a family who would forever change is life, by indirectly introducing him to the love of his life, Ottilia.

Julian finally settled in Los Angeles, California where he began a lifelong career as a Mechanical Engineer at Fairchild Burns, currently known as Collins Aerospace. It was also in Los Angeles where he met his future mother-in-law, who encouraged him to write her daughter in Budapest. Julian saw one picture of Ottilia and decided he would write a letter. After a year of corresponding back and forth, Ottilia arrived in the US on Feb 14, 1964, met Julian in person and within six short weeks they were married. 

When Fairchild Burns relocated from Burbank to Winston-Salem in 1972, Julian moved his young family cross country to begin a new life once again. Julian embraced his new state and spent every weekend exploring it with his family from the mountains to the beaches. In addition to exploring and traveling, Julian enjoyed playing the piano and any other instrument handed to him as he was musically gifted and could play any instrument by ear. He also loved soccer, and as soccer was just starting to expand in the area, the Optimist league called upon him to coach, as he did for several years.

Julian never met a stranger and embraced everyone with welcoming arms along with a shot of good Hungarian palinka.

Julian leaves behind his wife of 60 years, Ottilia, and daughters, Anna Freifeld (Joe) and Kristi Bush (Will); as well as five step grandchildren, Matt (Bree), Jonathan, Kassandra (Alex), Catherine Grace and Lillian; and 1 great-grandson, Parker.

As a lifelong devout Catholic, a Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, August 29, 2024, at 2 pm at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church.

The family would like to give special thanks to all those who cared for Julian during his final months, but especially to the staff at Kate B Reynolds Hospice, namely Bridget, Jennifer, Theresa, RickiLynn and Tasha; your kindness and compassion will never be forgotten.