June R. Erwin

Jan. 17, 2009
BOURBON - June Ruth Bramlet Erwin (Mrs. William W. Erwin) of Bourbon died peacefully surrounded by her family on January 17 at Memorial Hospital in South Bend. Her lifelong orientation and commitment to service to others shone as a teacher, community leader and volunteer in Marshall County and far beyond. With BS and MS degrees from the University of Illinois, this YWCA president, college May Queen and honors student surprised everyone when she married a young farmer in 1948. She came to Indiana in 1949 as the bride of Will Erwin of Bourbon. June taught speech, Spanish and psychology for 15 years in area schools and after retiring served as a volunteer tutor. She was a fundraiser for and member of the first board of directors for the Marshall-Starke Development Center. She actively supported the Marshall County Community Foundation, serving as a member of its founding board. Past president of the Bourbon Reading Club and the Marshall County Federation of Clubs, she served as well as vice chairman of the Marshall County Young Republicans and as Marshall County vice chairman of the "Eisenhower for President Committee." As a member of the United Methodist Church, June served as president of the United Methodist Women for four years and on the State Board of Hospitals and Homes of the Methodist Church. She taught Sunday school for many years and ran a Cub Scout den and campfire group. Whether donating blood or serving as a member of the Marshall County Red Cross Board of Directors, she actively supported the Red Cross for over half a century. Other board work included the Marshall County Board of Mental Health, the board of the Bashor Home for Boys in Goshen, and the Marshall County United Way boards. June's passion for service led her to serve in other ways as well. She taught swimming at the farm pond for many years and acted as a hospice volunteer in Marshall and Kosciusko counties. Although she never fulfilled a lifetime wish to learn to drive semi-tractor trailers, she did drive ambulance for the Bourbon EMS. While in Washington, DC, when her husband served as Assistant Secretary of Agriculture, she represented the USDA in the Washington inner city schools summer program and volunteered at DC junior high schools during the school year. Family and friends still savor memories of her prize winning homemade angel food cake and special tomato juice. A gracious, welcoming hostess on the farm, indeed wherever she was, "Mama June," as she was lovingly known to her grandchildren and many others, made warm friends around the world. She was an avid traveler to the last, an ardent reader and lifelong learner. She is survived by her husband Will of Bourbon; her daughter, Hope Erwin, and son-in-law, Richard Frank of White Fish Bay, Wisconsin; her son, James Erwin of Plymouth; daughter-in-law, Jacquie Erwin of Culver; nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren Her two sisters and her son Lewis preceded her in death. A celebration of June's life will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, January 21, in the Bourbon First United Methodist Church, 204 N. Washington St., Bourbon, Indiana. The family will receive friends from 2-5 and 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, January 20, in the church, and for one hour before services on Wednesday. Burial will follow at Parks Cemetery, Bourbon, Indiana. Contributions in her memory may be made to Hospice or to The Bourbon First United Methodist Church. If you wish to send an e-mail condolence to the family it may be done via deaton-clemensfh@cyberlinkint.com. Deaton-Clemens Funeral Home is in charge of local arrangements.