June Hill

June Dumford Hill, Born January 7, 1926, passed away September 2, 2019.  June lived a joyful life of influence and creative beauty for 93 years in her hometown of Mason, Ohio.  She will be missed deeply by a family for who is grateful for her charming and contagious ways.  They are comforted in the knowledge that she slipped peacefully from their embrace to the loving arms of Jesus Christ.

June was the cherished wife of the late Arnold Hill, her high school sweetheart.  They enjoyed life to the fullest throughout 65 years of marriage.  She leaves behind daughter Pam (Alan) Cornett or Morrow, Ohio, son Jeff (Andrea) Hill of Mason, and daughter Julee also of Morrow.  June was an attentive grandma “June Bug” to Dayle (Mickey) Thompson, Allison (Drew) Renner, Alyssa (David) Mui, and John J. Hill.  She was a proud great-grandma to Christopher and Jacob Allgeier, Aiden Alder, August Renner, and Noah Mui.  Along with Arnold, she was preceded in death by parents James and Katherine Dumford and sisters Ellen Baudendistal, and Wonita Yoder.  June walked through life faithfully alongside her best friend Millie Crosthwaite of Springboro, Ohio.

Her Mason graduating class of 1944 paused their futures in the wake of the Second World War.  While their high school sweethearts shed their graduation gowns for military uniforms, June and Millie embarked on photography careers which when retold are enchanting storybook tales.  Their careers began with bus rides to the big city of Cincinnati to the James Moon Photography Studios and on to apartment life living in Hamilton where June was the yearbook photographer for The Western Women’s College on the present site of Miami University.  Their travels later took them to Akron, Ohio where they established a studio for Stein Studios, all while waiting for their sweetheart soldiers to return from war.

June and Arn married in 1947 and began laying down their family roots.  From their first home in Pisgah to their welcoming farm on Bethany Road, the Hill family enjoyed life to the fullest.  The Farm life brought them much joy and they invited all those they loved to enjoy that life with them.  The doors were always open and those who came were always embraced.

In 1961, June and Arn built the storefront for June Hill Studio in Mason.  Arnold’s drive and loyalty coupled with June’s creative talents and disarming personality grew the business from a home studio to a storefront.  The business was vibrant and respected in the Cincinnati and Dayton area for nearly four decades.  The unique couple left behind scattered seeds of photographic memories through many generations.

While June was a talented photographer, her greatest offering in life was her open arms to all those around her.  She was a friend to many, a lover of life, a place of peace in times of need, a spark of joy always, and a sharer of The Faith that she was so sure of.

Her life was a portrait of beauty and grace.

A celebration of a life well-lived will be held at Heritage Presbyterian Church , 6546 Mason Montgomery Rd, Mason, OH 45040, on Friday, September 13, 2019.  Visitation will take place from 10:30 AM until time of service at 11:30 AM.   A luncheon for fellowship and memories will take place following the service at 12:30 PM.  Donations in June’s honor may be made to Best Friends Animal Society.

Donation Information:

Bestfriends.org/resources

Phone: (435) 644-2001, EXT: 4801