Julia Zimmerman Baltser, 82 of Dallas passed away December 12, 2016. Her memorial service will be held at Highland Springs in Dallas on January 5, 2017 at 1:00 pm. Julia was born in Dallas to J.C. and Tillie Zimmerman on May 17, 1934. She went to Highland Park High school and graduated in January 1953. Julia went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree from Southern Methodist University and her Master's degree in Landscape Architecture from University of Texas Arlington. Her thesis subject was on the revitalization of the Graham, Texas county courthouse. The local city leaders were so impressed with her plan, that her thesis was used as the basis for their 3-5 year downtown revitalization effort. In her youth, Julia was active in the Texas Christian Youth Council and served as President for several years. Another passion was her involvement with the Girl Scouts. She became a senior Girl Scout during high school in troop 148 and worked as a counselor at a Girl Scout camp in St. Louis. Her love of scouting continued when she served as leader for her daughter's troop, 578 for several years. In her early teens, she began a lifelong love of stamp collecting and was a member of the Dallas Park Cities Philatelic Society and the Chinese Philatelic Society. Julia was a member of the Jane Douglas Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution and was nominated for the national outstanding Junior DAR in 1963. Julia was an avid gardener and always had fresh flowers in the house. Over the years, she was a member of several garden clubs and won many competitions. She especially enjoyed the art of flower arranging and joined the Dallas chapter of Ikebana International, where she often gave talks and demonstrated flower arranging techniques. She was a charter member of Ikebana. To add to her love of the Asian culture, she joined and became a charter member of the Japanese America Society. Throughout her life, she enjoyed arts in all forms. During school she sang second soprano in both school and church choirs; she painted watercolors; enjoyed sketching, especially flowers and was a sculptor. Another art form she relished was the art of travel. She traveled the world extensively and enjoyed learning the culture of the countries she visited. Her travels to the southwest in the last 10 years lead her to develop a passion for American Indian pottery. After earning her Master's Degree, Julia joined the local chapter of ASLA (American Society of Landscape Architects). She was an active member, served as the DFW Chair for a few years and became an Emeritus member in 2010. She organized many of the chapter events and assisted in organizing one of the state conventions. Julia was the recipient of ASLA's Community Service Award and their Distinguished Service Award. Her Community Service included- ASLA (American Society of Landscape Architects) DART Professional Society Liaison committee 1987-90; Chair of University Park Master Plan committee 1988-89; Public liaison to the University Park Police Department for crime watch 1990 and served as a Trustee in the Oak Cliff Cemetery Association. Julia is preceded in death by her parents, JC and Tillie; a sister Rita Duncan; husbands John Baltser and Richard Weedfall. She is survived by daughters Catherine (Todd) White, Plano; Elizabeth (Robert Morrison)Thompson, Plano; and Ruthann Weedfall, Richardson; sister Elizabeth Edwards, Dallas; grandson James White; granddaughter Katie White; nieces Mimi (Jeff) Kackley, Charleston, S.C. and Virginia (Brian)Norment Alexandria, Virginia. Arrangements are under the direction of ARIA Cremation Service and Funeral Home 19310 Preston Road Dallas, Texas 75252 214-306-6700