Individual Details

June Allen Smith, 95, passed away January 17, 2019, in Dallas, Texas. She was born in Detroit, Michigan, on May 20, 1923, to Reuben Earl Aptekar and Anne Relyea Aptekar Allen. After graduating from Mamaroneck High School in Mamaroneck, New York, at age 17 June made a solo train trip across the U.S. to Los Angeles with all her belongings packed into a single trunk. There she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business from the University of Southern California, where she was an enthusiastic member of Alpha Delta Pi sorority as well as numerous social, student government and academic honorary organizations. During WWII, June volunteered for the U.S. Navy Women's Reserve (WAVES) and was certified as a Specialist Teacher Third Class, instructing carrier pilots in instrument flying procedures. To her amusement, the flight instructors were billeted by the Navy in a home formerly owned by Al Capone and operated by him as a speakeasy and casino. After the war, she taught instrument flying in New York City, then for KLM Royal Dutch Airlines in Curaçao, Netherlands West Indies. She retired as Lifestyles Editor of the Beaumont Enterprise after a 23-year career in the newspaper business, which earlier included a role as Life Editor of the Port Arthur News. She earned the Texas Sweepstakes Award for Excellence in Journalism and Woman of the Year from Texas Press Women as well as Excellence in Media Awards in 1995 and 1999 from the Press Club of Southeast Texas. The Beaumont Chamber of Commerce selected her as Woman of the Hour in 1987. In her retirement years in Brenham, Texas, June was a lifetime member of Texas Master Gardeners and a member of the Pioneer Unit of The Herb Society of America and Alpha Delta Pi Alumna Association. She was also a volunteer reading tutor at Brenham Elementary School and a volunteer with Hospice of Brazos Valley. Those of us who knew and loved her best cherish memories of the insatiable enthusiasm with which she unreservedly embraced each phase of her life. Whether journalism, travel, gardening or politics, we will remember her twirling a glass of wine, eyes lit with intelligence, as she plunged into discussion of the topic at hand. June was preceded in death by her parents, her first husband, Arthur L. Smith, her daughter Alison Smith and her brother Lloyd Allen. She is survived by husband Haskell E. Welch of Dallas, daughter Leslie Smith McConachie of Dallas, and granddaughters Caroline Collier of Fort Worth and Kendall Collier of Austin. She will also be missed by step-grandson Anders McConachie of Seattle; nieces and nephews Deb Allen (Sandy Farrow) and Keith Allen (Claire) of Massachusetts; Nancy Allen (Ian Gray) of Seattle; Janet George Hibbs (Cecil Smith) of Nebraska; and Joy George Fares (Tom) of Colorado. There will be a memorial service at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 9, at C.C. Young retirement community in Dallas. A military memorial ceremony and burial will be conducted on Friday, March 1, at 2:00 p.m. at Houston National Cemetery. Donations may be made to the American Cancer Society or the charity of your choice.
Published in the Beaumont Enterprise on Feb. 3, 2019

Death	17 Jan 19	Dallas, Dallas County, Texas, United States
Birth	20 May 1923	Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, United States
Residence	1930	Ypsilanti, Washtenaw, Michigan, United States
FIND-A-GRAVE		https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/196473954/june-eleanor-smith
Burial		Houston National Cemetery, Houston, Harris, Texas, United States

Spouse	Arthur Lee "Art" Smith (1919 - 1980)
Child	Living