She grew up in the great depression era, raised by her mother and siblings. June was a very resourceful and hardworking woman; in many ways ahead of her time. After graduating from Ada High School in 1938, she enrolled in East Central College in Ada, Oklahoma as an education major as her sisters and brothers before her. While she was in college she enjoyed working at a jewelry store in Ada. She loved music and loved to travel. In 1941 she joined a Marimba Symphony Orchestra organized by Clair Omar Musser. She toured with 120 other marimba players in the orchestra across the country. June received her Bachelor of Science in Education degree in the spring of 1942 and taught in the state of Oklahoma until her move to Texas. In 1949 she boarded a train and traveled from central Oklahoma to the southernmost part of Texas to accept a teaching position in the fall of 1949 with the Brownsville Independent School District. June loved to tell the story of how she did not know anyone in south Texas but a woman from her new church had rental property she offered her to rent. It wasn’t long after her move that she met the love of her life, Willis A. Wilson. They married the following year in August 1950.
June’s first teaching position was in elementary school then later transferred to middle school teaching spelling and reading. She accompanied several of her students to the National Spelling Bee in Washington. She was a dedicated member of the Alpha Mu Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma for 62 years. She was initiated in 1956 and served faithfully until leaving for Austin. Delta Kappa Gamma Society International promotes professional and personal growth of women educators and excellence in education. She was also active in her church in Brownsville. She was the unofficial greeter at the church every Sunday morning, offering everyone cookies, a job she took seriously. She was a talented artist spending many weekends and evenings at the Brownsville Art League painting, a hobby she enjoyed.
June moved to Austin following the death of her husband. She led an active life in the independent-living community making many friends. She continued her art projects as well as evenings playing Bingo and other games with the residents.
June was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Willis; her son Larry; brothers Lloyd, Grover, Duke; and sisters Pearl, Opal, and Jewell. June is survived by her daughter Marilyn Galvan (Eduardo); grandchildren Regina Budet (Richard Cerda), David Denton (Sarah Gray), and Danielle Mendoza (George Gonzales); 3 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.
The family would like to express their sincere gratitude to the nurses, clergy, social workers, and staff at Hospice Austin for their care and support.
A visitation will be on Thursday, July 12, 2018, 9:00 am to 10:00 am followed by a Memorial Service at Cook-Walden Chapel of the Hills Funeral Home, 9700 Anderson Mill Road, Austin, Texas 78750.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.cookwaldenchapelofthehills.com for the Wilson family.
