SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO — Hundreds of participants attended a celebration April 17 at Blenheim Farms of the life of Julia Bunge, a well-known figure on the hunter-jumper show circuit known for her gracious behind-the-scene contributions. Mrs. Bunge died April 9 of colon cancer at age 54.

Born in Galveston, Texas, in 1956, Mrs. Bunge settled in Orange County in the early 1990s with her husband Les, daughter Jessica, and son Morgan. The devoted full-time mother in 2000 went to work for Blenheim Equisports as manager of the unit’s “Medal Club”, which redefined the standard of show circuit hospitality.

She is survived by her husband, her children, her mother Ann; her sister Faith and her brother Alan. The family asks that donations be made to the Mission Hospital Foundation, 27799 Medical Center Road, Mission Viejo, CA 26291-9965, with “Julia Bunge” in the memo line.