Obituary of Julia Ann Rutherford

Julia was born on December 12, 1989 to Kelly and Bertha (Wold) Rutherford in Tacoma, WA and passed away July 3, 2011 due to a tragic hiking accident. She was named after her maternal grandmother. In kindergarten, she was suspended five times for expressing her individuality, intelligence and leadership skills. In junior high, she came and announced to her parents she would be playing football. She told them, “due to title 9, they can’t stop me”. By eighth grade, the boys had grown, she had not, and so she took up fencing instead. She had a natural talent for music, playing the oboe, flute, saxophone, piano and finally choosing the clarinet. She played the clarinet with the Eatonville music program and Tacoma Youth Symphony. She attended and graduated from Eatonville High School in 2008 as a National Merit Scholar. She applied to numerous universities and was accepted to nine out of the ten she applied to; including Yale. Instead, she chose to attend Pacific Lutheran University to be near her family. She completed three years double majoring in physics and chemistry and planned to achieve her doctorate and become a research scientist. While attending PLU she was active with the orchestra, chamber choir, bicycle club, and chemistry club. She recently received a National Student Leader Award from the American Chemical Society. Julia was an accomplished fencer and loved bicycling, sailing and hiking. Julia lived her life with no regrets. Everything she did, she did with passion giving 110%. She will be sorely missed and remembered by her loving family, many friends, colleagues, and PLU community. Julia is survived by her loving parents, Kelly and Bertha “Bert” Rutherford of Eatonville, WA; brother - Ian (Brittney) Rutherford of Round Rock, TX; long-time boyfriend - Peter Borschowa of Woodinville, WA; grandparents, Bill Rutherford, Velma Hunt; numerous extended family and friends. Service will be held at 1:30PM Monday, July 11, 2011 at Trinity Lutheran Church, 12115 Park Ave. South, Tacoma, WA 98444. Viewing one hour before the service.Donations can be made to Eatonville Dollars for Scholars, in Julia's Name, PO Box 1155, Eatonville, WA 98328. Arrangements by Edwards Memorial Center 253-566-1008.