Julius Paul Diprima, Sr.

Julius Paul Diprima, Sr., of Rome, GA, passed away at his residence Thursday evening at the age of 92. He is survived by his son Julius Paul Diprima Jr, his daughter Teresa Ann Diprima McKinney, (husband Kelley) and two granddaughters, Melinda McKinney and Bridgett McKinney.
Julius was born February 4, 1925, in Rome and was one of eight children of the late Joseph Diprima and Lois Dixon Diprima. He was preceded in death by his wife Annelle Teresa Mann Diprima (Rooney) and brothers Leonard, Tony and Henry, and his sisters, Mary Manzella, Josephine Tolbert and Marguerite Evans. His only surviving sibling, Nicolette Bruner, resides in Marietta, GA, with her husband Bill. Julius married Hazel Barnes in 1977. Hazel passed away in the early 1980s. His stepchildren were Norma Barnes Dent and Anne Marie Barnes Wiseman who was married to Danny Wiseman (one of Julius favorite fishing partners). Being from a large family, Julius was blessed with many wonderful nieces, nephews and cousins whom he loved dearly.
A graduate of Rome High School at Neely Hill, Julius was active in sports, a clarinet player in the high school band and was a member of the French club. After graduation Julius enlisted in the United States Navy and served in the Pacific during World War II, being stationed in New Guinea, the Philippines and Australia. While in Australia he had the honor of being trained and coached by Dominic Dimaggio in boxing and baseball.
Julius was an avid outdoorsman and his love of fishing, hunting and camping was only surpassed by his love of music and dancing. He and his wife Rooney would often steal the show with the jitterbug at the many dances around north Georgia.
Julius was born into a family with a history of shoe making and shoe repair and worked along with his father Joe at the Blue Ribbon Shoe Shop. After his fathers death Julius continued operating the shoe shop until handing over the shop to Paul.
A funeral Mass to honor the life of Julius will be held on Tuesday morning, August 1, 2017, at 10:30 a.m. in Saint Marys Catholic Church. Interment will follow in the Myrtle Hill Cemetery. The Honor Guard from Shanklin-Attaway Post 5 of the American Legion will confer military honors.
The family will receive friends on Monday evening, July 31, 2017, from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. at Salmon Funeral Home.
Please join the family in honoring Julius life by visiting www.salmonfuneralhome.com to share memories and post tributes.
The staff of Salmon Funeral Home, 2516 New Calhoun Highway, Rome, GA, 30161, is honored to serve the family of Julius Paul Diprima, Sr.