Julia May Peterson

Julia May Peterson, age 94, of Hardy, Virginia, passed away peacefully on March 13, 2026, in Radford, Virginia.

Born on July 17, 1931, in Bremerton, Washington, to the late Hugh and Julia Hetrick, Julia moved to Southern California in 1959. There she raised her family and lived for many years before moving to Hardy, Virginia, in 2017 to live with her son Robert Peterson.

A woman of deep and abiding faith, Julia was a longtime member of the Church of the Nazarene in Huntington Park, California, and later attended Cornerstone Church in Chino. Her relationship with God shaped her life, guiding the love and kindness she extended to everyone around her. She worked for Baker’s Burgers for twenty-five years, known for her dedication and strong work ethic, and continued working until she retired at the age of eighty-one.

Julia found quiet joy in reading her Bible, tending her garden, and baking with her grandchildren, creating simple yet lasting memories for her family. She was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth Peterson.

She is survived by her sons, Robert Peterson of Hardy, Virginia, David Peterson of Chino, California, and Michael Horst of El Paso, Texas. Julia will be remembered as a beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother whose gentle spirit, strong faith, and loving heart touched many lives.