Lunetta June (Dickson) Walden

Lunetta June (Dickson) Walden, formerly of Barrington, Illinois, died peacefully at her home in Sarasota, Florida on Monday, June 8, 2020.

A private family visitation and funeral service will be held on Tuesday, June 16, 2020 at Davenport Family Funeral Home, Barrington, followed by a graveside service and internment at Evergreen Cemetery, Barrington.

June was born on June 26, 1928 in Lake City, Moultrie County, Illinois.  In the mid 1930’s, her family relocated to Lovington, Illinois, where June completed her elementary and high school education.  She enrolled at Illinois State Normal University and received a bachelor’s degree in Education and a master’s degree in Business Education in 1949.  While there she was active in campus life.  She was a four year Drum Majorette, leading ISNU’s All Girl Marching Band.  She was involved in numerous groups and clubs including Maize Grange, the Business Education Club, and Student Government serving as secretary of her senior class.  June was a loyal Redbird Alum participating in numerous alumni events and gatherings in the ensuing years.  It was at ISNU that she met Oliver Wendell Walden of Wilson Township, DeWitt County, Illinois, who would later become the love of her life.

Following graduation June accepted a position at Moore High School in Farmer City, Illinois, from which Wendell had coincidentally graduated.  She taught several commercial and business-related classes, served as class advisor, and became a favorite of her students.  On June 16, 1957 June and Wendell were married at the Lovington Christian Church and made their first home in New Lenox, Illinois.  They later relocated to Villa Park, Illinois and Bloomington, Illinois to support Wendell’s career before their final stop in Barrington in 1974.  In retirement they became snowbirds, eventually settling in the Siesta Key and the Sarasota, Florida area.

June was always an exceptional wife, mother and later grandmother.  Between 1958 and 1965 she and Wendell had four children – Joseph, John, Julie and Jeffery.  She was completely selfless and dedicated to her family.  Through thousands of her children’s youth activities including sports, music, dance, academic, social, collegiate and otherwise, she rarely missed an activity and was often involved as a volunteer to ensure the events’ success.  When possible she and Wendell were socially active, and June enjoyed being with friends and many varied activities including bowling and bridge for many of the early years, and increasingly bingo and group puzzles as the years moved on.

June had an adventurous spirit.  She left her small-town home at a young age to attend college and, as a single woman in post-WWII America, pursue a career.  Her first car was a pink convertible.  She loved to travel, making dozens of road trips to warm weather vacation spots including an annual pilgrimage to Florida during her retirement years, and attending numerous conventions all around the U.S. for school business managers and other of Wendell’s organizational interests, where many lifelong friendships were made.  She was also an avid Chicago sports fan, though televised baseball rarely held her interest.

June was an active member of the United Methodist Church.  She and Wendell taught Sunday school at Bloomington United Methodist Church, ensuring that her children attended classes and services that ultimately led them to know and receive the saving grace of Christ.  At Salem United Methodist Church in Barrington, she helped found and support the Salem-hosted nursery school, and for many years delivered meals-on-wheels throughout the Barrington community.

From her early years as a first-generation college and masters graduate, June was independent and strong.  She was her family’s principal disciplinarian and rarely met a task, project or creative craft that she was unwilling to undertake.  She wallpapered and painted her children’s homes and college fraternity houses, patched rusted car panels, and was a prolific knitter and quilter.  She turned out countless afghans, pillows, and quilts that beautifully adorn the furniture of her family and represent the love and patience that was so much a part of her character.  She also excelled as a baker.   Her specialties included cookies, fudge, peanut clusters and chocolate peanut butter bars, and her children and grandchildren will always treasure her sharing her love for them through sweets.  She was also a military wife supporting Wendell’s 25-year career, which followed his Korean War service, in the Illinois Army National Guard and Army Reserve.  She never forgot her teaching skills, tutoring her children and several of their friends in the finer points of English, science and math.

Following Wendell’s surgery for pancreatic cancer in 1994 June became a devoted caregiver, learning to administer many difficult procedures during his long and grueling recovery.  As Wendell’s health declined many years later, June began a diary.  Her daily entries usually consisted of only one sentence, but those few words showed an extraordinary glimpse into June’s heart and the dedication and love she had for her husband.  Wendell passed away in 2006.

As her own health began to decline from the effects of congestive heart failure, diabetes and associated complications, her spirit never wavered.  She suffered a broken hip in 2018 at age 90, and the resilience and willpower she exhibited in her rehabilitation and recovery was amazing.  Recently June experienced several hospitalizations and follow-on rehabilitations due to health decline from age and chronic illness.  Through it all she demonstrated extraordinary grace and determination that defined her final stage of life.

Perhaps the traits that June’s friends and loved ones will most remember about her are the personal ones.  She was kind, quiet and gentle, with a mischievous sparkle in her eyes that sometimes brought a dose of sarcasm, an appropriate tease or a touch of sassiness.  She loved her family unconditionally and without judgement, especially her eight grandchildren.  They could do anything, be anyone or love anyone that made them happy, and she loved them just the same, was proud of them and made them feel equally special.  June was fond of ending every phone call with the same words, “Always good to talk to you” and “I love you too”.  While her loved ones’ hearts are broken, they will never forget her sparkling blue eyes and sweet, gentle smile.

Surviving June are her sons; Joseph (Pam Williams) of Dublin, Ohio, John (Peggy Scully) of Chicago, Illinois, Jeffery of Sarasota, Florida, a daughter Julie Schwarzenberg (Roy) of Frederick, Maryland;  grandchildren Hunter Foltz; Daniel, Timothy, Charles, Jack, and Luke Walden; Nicholas and Emily Schwarzenberg;  and a brother-in-law James (Karen) Walden, a sister-in-law Sonia Dickson, and several nieces and nephews.  June was preceded in death by her parents, Vivian Lunetta (Schisler) Dickson and Chester Clifton Dickson, her husband  O. Wendell Walden, and her brother William E. Dickson.

In lieu of flowers, donations would be welcomed by Illinois State University, College of Education, Campus Box 8000, Normal, Illinois 61790-8000, and Salem United Methodist Church, 115 W. Lincoln Avenue, Barrington, Illinois 60010.