June K. Fleck

FLECK, JUNE K. Waking up to the sound of explosions and sirens was not what June Fleck expected in the first week of her delayed honeymoon on the island of Oahu. The day was December 7, 1941. As her husband, Lt. Dick Fleck, raced to reach his ship, the USS Helena, which was moored in Pearl Harbor, he instructed June to grab a cab if she could and head to the hills for safety. She was ultimately transported to San Francisco along with other military dependents on the cruise ship, the USS Lurline. It was one year later before she was able to spend any time with her new husband. June Kirkham Fleck, died peacefully in her sleep on December 14, 2005. She suffered from a stroke on October 21, 2005 and developed pneumonia. Typical of her active life, she was sitting in a board meeting at the Pacific Regent when she became ill. June Lillis Kirkham was born on August 3, 1918 in Kansas City, Missouri. After growing up in Independence, Missouri, she attended the University of Kansas. She transferred to Louisiana State University in her junior year and graduated with a BA in Education. Having gone back to the Kansas City area to teach elementary school, she re-connected with a childhood friend, Richard W. Fleck, a newly minted Naval aviator. She said she always knew he liked her because he had thrown rocks at her when they were young to get her attention. They were married in 1941 in a typical war time wedding by a Justice of the Peace. Thus began a 25 year odyssey of a Navy wife. Households were moved often, sometimes twice in one year, and there were numerous separations due to military duties. She and Dick lived in California, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Alabama, and French Morocco. After her husband's retirement, June went back to teaching first grade. In 1973 the Flecks moved to La Jolla to be near their daughters and grandchildren. Never one to let a suitcase remain idle, they traveled extensively in Europe, China, Australia, and the United States. June's goal was to visit every continent before she died. She almost succeeded with Antarctica being left off her list. She said she could never find anyone daring enough to go with to the bottom of the Earth after her husband's death. When she wasn't traveling, June held leadership positions at St. Peter's Episcopal Church, Country Friends, Scripps Memorial La Jolla Auxiliary, and the Pacific Regent. Bridge and reading were her passions, and when she was introduced to the computer ten years ago, she continued to travel via e-mail and web sites. June Fleck is survived by her daughters, Gail Lichter, San Diego, Dyan Pignatelli, Park City, Utah, and Tucson; sons-in-law, Bob Lichter and Jim Pignatelli. Her grandchildren are Kristopher Lichter, San Diego, Kerrie Ozarski, San Diego, Melissa O'Brien, Atlanta and Tina Pignatelli, Washington, D.C., Tristan and Arden Lichter, great-grandchildren, kept her young at heart. Cremation will be at sea, and a private Celebration of her Life will be held January 13, 2006. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Family Literacy Foundation, www.Read2kids.org Please sign the guest book at obituaries.uniontrib.com