Georganna Julius Georganna Julius, age 91, will be the grand marshal of the Flora Christmas Parade.

The parade will be this Saturday, beginning at 12:30 p.m. from Jackson-Lee- Pearson.

Georganna is a native of Lizton, but has been part of the Flora community since 1939. She graduated from Purdue University that year and began teaching home economics at Flora High School. She later received her master's degree from Purdue.

After teaching 10 years, she took time out to start a family. She resumed teaching in 1959, this time in fifth grade. She taught in the Flora building her whole career, retiring in 1982.

"I always liked all the kids, even the ornery ones," she said.

Georganna married Bob Julius in 1942. He died in 1982, the same year she quit teaching. Bob had owned and operated Julius Clothing Store in Flora for 43 years. At his death, there was no one to run it, so Georganna ran it for a year.

"I didn't know beans about running a store, but I didn't want to just close it," she said. After a year, she was able to sell it.

Both Bob and Georganna were active members of the community. Bob was president of the Flora Community Club and served on the town board. Georganna was president of Psi Iota Xi and worthy matron of Eastern Star.

Georganna is still a member of the Community Club, as well as the Flora United Methodist Church. She still supports community endeavors such as the Carroll County Community Foundation.

She has earned the right to just sit back and relax, but she still gets out when she can, and she says she has to stay busy at home.

"I can't just sit and watch TV," she said. "I keep a book going all the time, and I've always got some knitting going."

Georganna knits hats, scarves, and mittens and then gives them away to family and friends.

She said she's always pleased to hear from former students. Two of her regular visitors are Doris Payne and Garnet Snyder. They were in Georganna's home economics class in her first year of teaching.

"There are some teachers you always remember and admire," Garnet said. "Georganna is a nice lady. I always enjoy a visit with her. She's interesting to talk to."

"Georganna's very caring, and a great person," Doris added. Just last week, Doris, age 83, had a knitting problem she couldn't solve so she went to her former teacher, Georganna, for help.

Georganna doesn't live in the past, but she does like to glance back. She recalls that when she went to Purdue, it was a much smaller campus, and only had one residence hall for women.

Two women on the Purdue staff during that time were Amelia Earhart and Lillian Gilbreth. Both were pioneers in their field - Earhart in aviation and Gilbreth in industrial engineering. Georganna had casual conversations with both of them, and remembers dining with Amelia Earhart.

Georganna also has fond memories of Flora when people didn't go out of town as much.

"You could get anything you needed in Flora, except shoes, and people had parties and entertained in their homes."

Today, Georganna's life revolves around family. They keep her current, and look after her. She has two children, Cindy Jones of Flora and Rob Julius of Indianapolis; two grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. They affectionately call her "Georgie."

"Bob really liked Flora," Georganna said, "and I've enjoyed it, too. I wouldn't think of living anywhere else."