June Faye Clegg Engel

1925 - 2018

June Faye Clegg Engel
June 7, 1925 - August 1, 2018

June Faye Clegg Engel, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, mentor and friend, stepped very peacefully into the loving arms of our Lord Jesus Christ on Wednesday, August 1.

June was born June 7, 1925, in Gridley, Kansas to Charles Monroe Clegg and Wealthy "June" King Clegg. Charles Clegg died in a blizzard in March 1932, and Wealthy was left to support two children at the height of the Great Depression. Wealthy went wherever she could find work throughout the Southwest, so June grew up in Kansas, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona.

When June was a teen, her mother married John Thorman, a good and kind man who was a wonderful second father. June attended Phoenix (Ariz.) High School before moving to Barstow, Calif., with her mother and "Papa," and graduated from Barstow High.

The family later moved to Bakersfield. June attended Bakersfield College before leaving school to work for Bank of America. In 1950, she married the love of her life, Alton Carl "Tony" Engel. They raised three children in a home filled with love and laughter, and celebrated 62 years of marriage.

In the early 1960s, June committed her life to Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. She came to believe what the Bible teaches, that "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," (Romans 3:23), and "God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).

June was a wonderful wife and mother, diligently and lovingly meeting the needs of her family. Many nights, her children would hear from their beds the sewing machine running as June made beautiful clothes for them. She was a fun, creative, deeply caring mom who made every birthday and holiday special and exciting.

June and Tony gave their children a multitude of life experiences through summers at the beach and in the mountains, winters skiing, as well as exposure to music, literature, art, science and sports. The family began attending Fruitvale Community Church (now RiverLakes) in 1964, and they grew in their faith and in the knowledge of God and His Word.

June became a leader in Bible Study Fellowship (BSF), and was active in church as the Church Hostess. She left BSF to be a teacher with Fruitvale Women's Fellowship, and later the Administrative Head of Women's Fellowship where she served for a number of years. She received training to be a Biblical lay counselor and became a great help and encouragement to many women.

God called Tony home five years ago and in that time, June found God was faithful to be with her and to meet her needs. She grew greatly in her faith and was determined to be thankful, joyful and uncomplaining. Her certain confidence in God enabled her to face the end of her life completely at peace.

In addition to her beloved Tony, parents and stepfather, she was preceded in death by her brother Bill Clegg and his wife Marie. She is survived by so many who love her, including her children and their spouses: Kim and Arnold Anchordoquy; Joe and Laura Engel; Heidi and Mark Bagby; and by her sister-in-law, Jeanne Engel, seven grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren and many nephews and their families.

The family wishes to express a special thanks to extended family and friends for all their love, prayers and support, and also to Alternative Care, Brookdale at Riverwalk, Bakersfield Heart Hospital, Around the Clock and Hoffman Hospice for their professional care and comfort.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to The Mission at Kern County, the Bakersfield Crisis Pregnancy Center or RiverLakes Community Church.

A memorial service will be held August 17 at 10:00 a.m. at RiverLakes Community Church, 4301 Calloway Drive, Bakersfield, in the Main Auditorium.

"Very truly I tell you, whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life."

(John 5:24)