June Strong
June 19, 1919-Sept. 29, 2014
San Jose, California

June Conrow Strong -- a 33-year resident of Palo Alto -- passed away peacefully on Sept. 29, 2014, at age 95.

June moved to Palo Alto in 1959 with her husband John Strong and their seven children. John, a pilot for United Airlines, had accepted a transfer from Chicago to San Francisco to pilot their DC-8s to the new state of Hawaii. June and John quickly gained treasured friendships in Palo Alto and became involved in numerous community activities. During the 1960s and '70s, June contributed her time and talents to the PTAs for Lytton, Crescent Park, Jordan and Paly, as well as the Girl Scouts, the Allied Arts Guild and Palo Alto Auxiliary, while her husband John coached the Liddicoat's Little League team, was active with Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts, and supported Paly athletics as president of the Booster's Club.

Enthusiastic Giants fans, June and John also shared a passion for golf, playing at the Palo Alto Municipal Golf Course and celebrating their annual wedding anniversary at Pebble Beach during the Crosby Pro-Am. They enjoyed hosting bridge games and social gatherings for their friends in addition to countless slumber parties, Little League gatherings, birthday celebrations, club meetings, receptions and Scouting events.

By 1992, June and John began to seek pastimes beyond maintaining their large 1902 house, which had suited their family of nine better than it suited two empty nesters. They moved to The Villages golf community in San Jose after selling their home to a couple who have renovated and beautified it so devotedly that it has been entered into the City of Palo Alto's Historic Inventory.

June loved gardening, and she always brightened her home with flowering plants and sunny colors. She was a master chef and a talented singer, and her children remember that when she was cooking she was a joyful songbird whose beautiful voice filled their home with song.

June was born on June 19, 1919, to Arthur Conrow and Mabel Stensby Conrow in Hale, Wisconsin. She and her three siblings especially enjoyed summers at the nearby farm that was their mother's childhood home. The family eventually moved to Eau Claire, Wisconsin, and June graduated from Eau Claire High School in 1937. In 2012 she joined eight of her classmates in Eau Claire for their 75th class reunion.

In 1937 the Depression was on, so college or singing lessons were not options for June. Instead, she served for several years as the secretary at the Eau Claire YMCA. Her life changed on March 16, 1943, when she met John Strong, then a young naval aviation instructor, while visiting her sister in Miami. John immediately fell in love with his spunky, 5'2" "Daisy June," and the two married on January 16, 1944. They lived in Miami until the war ended, when, with one toddler in tow, they moved to Illinois so John could resume his career flying DC-3s out of Chicago for United. June had her hands full maintaining a home that, within 10 years, included seven children.

June had a sunny nature and quiet fortitude that reflected the grace within her. She loved people, cherished her friendships, was devoted to her family and readily took on leadership roles to support her community. She had a playful wit, a warm sense of humor and a refreshing sense of style that showed in her home, her manner and her appearance. For her family and friends, it was always an uplifting treat to see her and to glimpse the bright twinkle in her eye.

June is survived by her seven children -- Jean Hurrle, Martha Strong, Frances Strong (and husband Tom Williams), John Strong Jr., Barbara Mitchell (and husband Fred), Mary Strong and Jim Strong -- and by eight grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.