June Faber Read
December 21, 1929 – August 5, 2021
June Read, age 91, passed away on August 5, 2021 at the Shady Grove Adventist Hospital with her daughter by her side. She is survived by her daughter, Joslyn Read (married to Michel Bonard) of Potomac, Maryland; son, Russ Read (married to Beatrice McKenzie) of Springfield, Oregon; and her grandchildren, Marguerite Read and McKenzie Read. She is predeceased by her parents, Marguerite and Clarence Faber, her brothers, Cecil and Billy Faber, and by her ex-husband, Merrill “Steve” Read.
Born June Faber in Westchester, Ohio in 1929, she graduated from Ohio State in 1951 and moved to teach school at the Wasatch Academy outside of Salt Lake City until 1953. She married Steve Read in 1953, then taught in the Denver Public Schools until 1958. She developed a love of creating and surrounding herself with contemporary visual art. June began a 40-year career in real estate after moving to the Washington, DC area in 1965.
An open-hearted friend and fierce defender of those close to her, June spent her life mentoring, counseling, sheltering, and serving her family, her friends, her students, her clients, and her community. June was always ready to provide a safe refuge when things in life had just gone sideways. Her passionate creativity appeared everywhere from her early artwork to her hosting an impromptu meal for whomever showed up in her kitchen.
June discovered skiing while living out West. Skiing and her skiing friends became the backbone of her life, giving her strength when nothing else would. After hanging up her skis at age 79, she began swimming at Asbury Center. Her generous spirit shone through when she joined the volunteers at Strathmore Center for the Arts and the Asbury Clowns, bringing vivacious laughter and joy to area nursing homes. Known as “Sparky” to her clown friends, nothing was ever brighter than the mischievous twinkle in June’s eye when she would get a new idea or made someone’s day.
Memorial services will be held later this year for friends, neighbors, and family. In lieu of flowers, June has requested donations in her honor be directed to Feed the Children (https://www.feedthechildren.org/).
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