After a blessed life, Mrs. Julia Vakos Nordstrom, 89, passed away on Aug. 10, 2025, in Williamsburg.
Born in Lake Toxaway, N.C., to William J. Vakos and Mary Ellamae Hall Vakos, Julia was one of 11 children and referred to herself as “the middle button.” She grew up in Virginia Beach swimming in the ocean, hunting for coins under the boardwalk after hurricanes, and running her family’s pharmacy where, in her downtime, she enjoyed ice cream floats and comic books. In high school, she was crowned homecoming queen and the 1953 Beach Bowl Queen.
In 1958, Julia graduated from the College of William & Mary with a double major in business and education, later earning her library science certification from Old Dominion University, which she used to help modernize the Northampton County Public School library system. At W&M, she met her husband of 67 years, Marine 1st Lt. Clyde V. Nordstrom Jr., an Eastern Shore of Virginia native.
While raising five children on the Eastern Shore, Clyde and Julia built and ran The Nordstrom Oil Co. and a property rental company. Constantly in motion and needing little sleep, Julia also taught at her children’s school, was a Sunday School teacher at Franktown United Methodist Church, and ran a small bookstore called The Book and Hobby Shop, where she often bartered art supplies for paintings from a budding local artist, Willie Crockett. Julia was also a self-taught computer coding programmer, creating a billing system for the oil company at a time when none was available. She could do anything she set her mind to do.
In addition to writing plays and a pictorial history book called “The Eastern Shore of Virginia in Days Past,” Julia also preserved old buildings, renovating the 1910 Turner House and the 1776 Melville Colonial Kitchen, both in Belle Haven, as well as the 1890 Victorian Armistead House in Williamsburg. Her love of books, education, business, and real estate were just a few gifts Julia passed down to her children.
Upon retiring, the couple became snowbirds, alternating between Anna Maria Island, Fla., and the Eastern Shore for 11 years before finally settling in Williamsburg.
Julia was preceded in death by her son, Clyde “Chip” William Nordstrom; her sisters, Jeanne Vakos, Estelle Davis, Grace Dragas, and Patricia Vakos; and her brother, George Vakos.
Julia is survived by her husband, Clyde Vernon, of Williamsburg; her sons, Dennis (Katrina) Nordstrom, of Hawaii, and Michael (Mary) Nordstrom, of Indiana; her daughters, Wendy (George) Kokolis, of Florida, and Judy (Charles) Bono, of Williamsburg. She also leaves behind grandchildren: Chelsea (Marty) Tozzi-Condivi, of Australia, Logan (Kelly) Nordstrom, of Charlottesville, Rhys Nordstrom, of Staunton, Halle Nordstrom, of England, Julie Kokolis, of Florida, Demetrios (Michelle) Kokolis, of Florida, Marinos Kokolis, of Williamsburg, Kaliope Kokolis, of Greece/New York City, Gabriel Bono, of Florida, Hannah Bono, of Kansas, Brett Bono, of Williamsburg, Christian Nordstrom, of Indiana, and Alexandra Nordstrom, of Indiana; as well as three great-grand-children, Miles Nordstrom, of Charlottesville, and Enzo and Ella Tozzi-Condivi, both of Australia. Julia will be dearly missed.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 26, at Franktown United Methodist Church in Franktown, followed by a brief graveside service. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to: The College of William & Mary Alumni Association, P.O. Box 1693, Williamsburg, VA 23187 and Broadwater Academy, P.O. Box 546, Exmore, VA 23350 or online at: broadwateracademy.org
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.doughtyfuneralhome.com
Arrangements are made by Doughty Funeral Home in Exmore.
