Obituary of Julia Deskins Vook

Julia Deskins Vook, 69, of Nedrow, New York died Saturday, July 5, 2003 at home. Julia was born August 26, 1933 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the daughter of Stuart and Julia (Braxton) Deskins. She received a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of North Carolina and a Master of Music degree in composition from the University of Illinois, where she studied with Burrill Phillips and Robert Palmer. When she was 15 years old, her string orchestra piece was performed over 100 times in a statewide tour by the North Carolina Symphony Orchestra. Her music has also been performed at the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana, and in Salt Lake City, Seattle, Lafayette (Louisiana), SUNY at Stonybrook, and in Syracuse. Julia maintained a private piano studio in the Syracuse area since moving here in 1965. She was a member of the Central New York Association of Music Teachers, Pro Art-Eltinge Guild, and Teachers of Young Students-Suzuki and Beyond (TOYSS). Both she and her husband are members of Atonement Lutheran Church. Julia is survived by her husband of almost 47 years, Dr. Richard W. Vook; two daughters, Katherine Getchell of Londonderry, New Hampshire and Elizabeth VanBenSchoten of Jamesville, New York; two sons, Richard S. Vook of Ellicott City, Maryland and Dr. Frederick Vook of Schaumburg, Illinois; twelve grandchildren, for whom Julia has written many of her piano pieces. Calling hours will be held at Ballweg & Lunsford Funeral Home, 4612 S. Salina Street, Syracuse, New York, July 7, 2003, from 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.. Services will be held at Atonement Lutheran Church, July 8, 2003, at 10:30 a.m.. Burial will be at Onondaga Valley Cemetery following the service. Contributions may be made to the Central New York Association of Music Teachers Memorial Fund. Checks should be made out to CNYAMT with notation "Memorial Fund-in-memory of Julia Vook." They should be sent to Mr. James Vatter, 5780 Celi Drive, East Syracuse, New York, 13057.