June Gardner Upton

DELAVAN, WI - June G. Upton, age 93, of Delavan, WI passed away on Sunday morning, April 6, 2014 at Vintage on the Ponds Nursing Home in Delavan. A long-time resident of Beloit, Delavan Lake, and Fontana before moving to Vintage, she touched a large number of persons during her life and will be remembered for being a gracious, caring and loving lady. June was born on June 12, 1920 in Indianapolis, IN the younger of two daughters of C.B. "Jack" Gardner and Ina H. Gardner. After attending high school, where she was involved in the music department, she matriculated to Lake Forest College, Lake Forest, IL where she received a B.A. degree in 1942. Of great importance to her life was her meeting during her senior year at Lake Forest with Miller Upton, an associate professor of economics, who she would subsequently marry on the 20th of December, 1942. Their marriage lasted 63 years, ending only upon the passing of Miller on the 19th of December, 2005. Following their marriage, June and Miller spent a year working at a settlement house in his home town of New Orleans, LA. The two of them subsequently moved to Evanston IL while he obtained his Ph.D. in Economics at Northwestern University. There then followed several years in St. Louis, MO where she concentrated on raising a family while Miller served as the Dean of the Business School at Washington University. In 1954, at the age of 34 years, she moved with Miller and their family of three sons to Beloit, WI when he became President of Beloit College, where he served for 21 years in that position. During their time at the College, June became involved in numerous activities with Beloit College students and faculty, as well as a number of community organizations in the City of Beloit including the First Presbyterian Church. She also participated in a number of overseas trips on behalf of the U.S. Government, accompanying Miller on travels to Russia and Paris, France Lake Oswego, OR; and Thomas (Karolina) of Arlington, VA. She is further survived by her great-grandchildren Ethan & Emmerson Helms; Abhi, Ella and Miller Upton; and Marie June Upton. A Memorial Service will be held at the UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST - CONGREGATIONAL Church in Delavan on Saturday, April 26, 2014, with Senior Pastor Laura McLeod officiating. Visitation with members of the family will begin at 10:00 a.m. with the service beginning at 11:00 a.m. A reception will be held at the Church following the service. A private family interment service will take place later in the afternoon at Spring Grove Ceremony. activities with Beloit College students and faculty, as well as a number of community organizations in the City of Beloit including the First Presbyterian Church. She also participated in a number of overseas trips on behalf of the U.S. Government, accompanying Miller on travels to Russia and Paris, France in his capacity as the U.S. Delegate to the UNESCO Conference. An accomplished pianist, she was involved in a number of music programs and organizations during this period of her life, particularly being very involved in the founding years of the Beloit Janesville Symphony. Following Miller's resignation as President of Beloit College in 1975, June and Miller moved to their home on Lake Delavan before moving to a home in Fontana, WI in the mid-90s. She remained in this home until after Miller's death in 2005. During life in Walworth County, June was active with the Lake Delavan Garden Club, the Lake Delavan Yacht Club and the United Church of Christ - Congregational Church where she was an active member of the choir. Maintaining a gracious home at all times, she was a fabulous hostess to people from all walks of life, including the corporate sector where Miller was working as a consultant during his final working years. June is survived by her children, Randall G. Upton of Delavan, WI; Thomas M. Upton (Claire) of Independence, KY; and Richard L. Upton (Jaymie) of Richmond, VA. She is further survived by her grandchildren John D.G. Upton (Kamala) of Los Angeles, CA; Andrew L. Upton of San Francisco, CA; Mitchell M. Upton of South Lake Tahoe, CA; Ann Helms (Roman) of Richmond, VA; Brenton Upton of Independence, KY; Trevor Upton (Tammy) of The family of June Upton would like to thank the staff at Vintage on the Ponds for their wonderful treatment of her over these past four and one-half years, particularly for their extra efforts in ensuring that June's last days were quiet, peaceful and pain free. Thanks also go out to the staff of St. Jude Hospice for their excellent attention to their mother, and to Dr. Garth Schneider for his years of attention to, and care of, their parents Miller and June. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations made be made to Beloit College for inclusion into the corpus of the Miller and June Scholarship Fund. Service Information Saturday, April 26th, 2014 11:00am