June R. Ottwell

1927 - 2024

June R. Ottwell
Wood River - On Saturday, December 14, 2024 June R. (McDonald) Ottwell of Wood River, Illinois, passed away at the age of 97, in Alton, Illinois, with her family by her side.
Born June 5, 1927, in Alton, Illinois, to Arthur and Elsie (Jones) McDonald. She married the love of her life, Herbert C. Ottwell Sr. on June 29, 1945. He preceded her in death on March 21, 1988. She was a wonderful and loving mother, mother-in-law and grandmother to Mary Wilson of Roxana, Illinois, the late Herbert Jr. Ottwell of Wood River, Illinois, Virginia (Jerry) Jarrett of Paducah, Kentucky, Christopher (the late Mary Lou) Ottwell of Alton, Illinois, the late Thomas Ottwell of Batchtown, Illinois, and Robert (Tina) Ottwell of Jerseyville, Illinois; a grandmother to eight granddaughters, eleven grandsons, and several great and great-great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Arthur and Elsie; her beloved husband, Herbert Sr.; four brothers, Ivan, James, Ernest, and Arthur; two sons, Herbert Jr. and Tom; a daughter in-law, Mary Lou; and three grandchildren, Holly, Sarah and Todd.
Ms. Ottwell was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother. She was also a devoted Jehovah's Witness with an unwavering faith and dedication to sharing the Bible's message. She was a cherished member of the Wood River Kingdom Hall Community for many years. June was the oldest living Jehovah's Witness in the United States.
In June's younger years during WWII, she worked as a telephone operator for Southwestern Bell, became a devoted mother and housewife who loved gardening, cooking, and taking care of her family. Aside from raising her family, her passion was working with sewing equipment which brought her to become a professional seamstress throughout the rest of her life.
June always had a kind word, was very loving and generous and had a wonderful sense of humor up to the day she passed. She will be greatly missed and never forgotten!
Services were held at Pitchford Funeral Home 2555 Vaughn Rd (Route 111), Wood River, Illinois, 62095, on Monday, December 30, 2024. Visitation was from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., the service immediately followed at 12 p.m. Graveside service were at Rose Lawn Memory Gardens in Bethalto, Illinois.