Jules "Captain Julio" H Kates

In Loving Memory of Jules

 

Jules lived a full and remarkable life defined by family, hard work, curiosity, humor and a deep love for the people around him.

 

Born with an independent spirit and an eagerness to experience the world, Jules joined the United States Navy as a young man, where he served as a radarman. After his military service, he returned home and began working at Fritzi’s Thrift Togs, where he met the love of his life, Lila, who was just 19 years old at the time.

 

Jules and Lila fell in love, married, and began what would become an extraordinary 72-year marriage. They were true partners throughout their lives, raising two daughters, building a family, traveling the world and sharing more than seven decades of life together.

 

Professionally, Jules was a hardworking and successful businessman. After an early venture in the clock business, he joined his brothers-in-law in the retail lighting business. Through years of hard work and dedication, he earned their trust and eventually became a partner in what grew into a successful chain of retail lighting stores.

 

Jules believed strongly in the value of education, hard work, independence and perseverance, values he passed along to his daughters and grandchildren.

 

Outside of work, Jules had an endlessly curious mind and a wide range of interests. He loved history, current events, landscaping, travel, stamp collecting and, especially, baseball and the Los Angeles Dodgers. He was an avid reader who read the newspaper from front to back and was known for introducing his family to obscure new words—and then telling them to “look it up in the dictionary” when they asked what they meant.

He also had a wonderful sense of humor and a quick wit that remained with him throughout his life. Those who knew Jules knew that he was unmistakably himself—direct, funny, strong-willed, affectionate and memorable.

Despite the demands of running a business six days a week, Jules always made time for his family. Sundays were reserved for family outings and dinners, often shared with extended family. Many treasured family memories were also made at Lake Arrowhead, where weekends and holidays were spent boating, water skiing, barbecuing, playing games and simply enjoying being together.

 

Above all else, Jules was devoted to his family.

 

He was a loving father to his two daughters and took enormous pride in his grandchildren. Becoming a grandfather brought him tremendous joy, and he delighted in watching his family grow to include three great-grandchildren. He spoke proudly and often of the people he loved.

 

Near the end of his life, Jules expressed his gratitude for the life he had lived, his deep love for Lila, and his pride in his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was surrounded by the love of the family he had spent a lifetime building.

 

Jules leaves behind his beloved wife of 72 years, Lila; his devoted daughters, Vicki and Jackie; his four adored grandchildren, Jason, Samantha, Joshua and Lindsay; and his three cherished great-grandchildren, Maverick, Palmer and Liam.

 

He leaves behind a legacy of hard work, curiosity, humor, devotion and, most importantly, family.

Jules lived a big life, loved deeply and gave those who knew him a lifetime of memories.

He will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered.