June Rider Dodson

June Dodson is a storyteller, and she has much to share. June passed away on April 24, 2025. These words give only a brief introduction to her life. June was born to German immigrants. Her dad knew Mr. Ensor here who gave him a job on the WWI draft committee. For payment he was given 18 acres of land along Jarrettsville Pike. June was born in 1928. The Depression prevented her father from fully working. Her mom had 6 children and was very strict, especially with June, the oldest girl. She learned all the housewife skills by age 10…washing, diapers, hauling water indoors, cooking, canning. She attended Carroll Manor School when it first opened, wearing clothes her mom made of feed bags. She and her brother walked to St. John’s for confirmation classes (2.3 miles). At 14, in order to attend Towson High School she lived with her grandfather on York Road. After she graduated, she got a job at Black and Decker. She had to rent a room, no kitchen so had to eat out and her paycheck was so small she was always hungry. She would stand in line at the back of the restaurant and get dinner for $1. B&D involved her in the Miss Towson beauty contest in which she was a runner-up. For talent she sewed a beautiful suit from a man’s suit.

After a year, she left B&D for a better job at the Courthouse Clerk’s office. She made $33 a week. For fun she took swim lessons and barn dancing with girlfriends. She worked in Miami for a while; there was the Easter service at the Orange Bowl. It was an extraordinary experience and filled her with the awe of God’s presence; she is still moved by this experience. She knew forgiveness of sins and the love of our Lord.

In 1945 she met Jimmy Dodson, a taxicab driver, and married him in 1951. She and Jimmy settled in Sunnybrook, built a house, then moved to her present home, also self-built, in 1984. She has 3 children and 9 grandchildren.

She plays Scrabble, paints with her natural talent. Her paintings are full of color. She used to work on her extensive gardens until she acquired a skin disease that prevents her being outside.

“Of all the hard life I’ve had and learned from, St. John’s Church was the best thing my dad and mom ever gave me. My religion is based in St. John’s through bad times, unusual times, depression, and good times. I love St. John’s and everyone there.”

June was the loving wife of the late James E. Dodson, Sr.; devoted mother of Debbie Rushton, James “Jay” Dodson, Jr. and his wife Sherry; Glen Dodson and his wife Melanie Ciaschi; dear sister of Lois Saberg, Patsy Tomlinson and Ronnie Rider and his wife Sharon; cherished grandmother of Lauren, Jimmy and his wife Jennifer, Matthew, Leigh, Abigail, Evan, Cathlene, and Edward; adoring great grandmother of Rebecca, Edward, Michael, Addison, and James, IV.

The family will receive friends at the LEMMON FUNERAL HOME OF DULANEY VALLEY INC., 10 W. Padonia Road (at York Road) Timonium, Maryland 21093 on Wednesday, May 7, 2025 from 4PM to 7PM. A funeral service will be celebrated at the St. John’s Lutheran Church, 3911 Sweet Air Road, Phoenix, Maryland 21131 on Thursday, May 8, 2025 at 11AM.

Interment in the St. John’s Lutheran Church Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be directed in June’s memory to St. John’s Lutheran Church, 3911 Sweetair Road, Phoenix, Maryland 21131.