STAN AND JUNE CLARKE
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2024 there were about 101,000 centenarians – individuals who are age 100 or older. Well, in 2025 there will be at least one more, and she lives right here in Herons Glen!
On June 30, Dorothy “June” Clarke of Valparaiso Boulevard will celebrate her 100th birthday.
June was born in 1925 and had two sisters and a brother. Her mother died when she was only 3 years old. Initially she and her siblings were raised by her father and her grandmother, but June lived with a variety of other relatives over the years. Because of the Great Depression, her father was often unemployed and looking for work, not always in the Baltimore area.
At age 16, June opted not to finish school but to go to work instead at a Baltimore shoe factory. Thereafter, she held many positions in many companies and, despite her lack of education, was a very quick learner.
As she stated, if she could get a nickel more, she’d move to another organization. As a tiny sample, she worked at Lever Brothers, General Electric, Western Electric, and Two Guys (discount chain). She ended her multifaceted career working as a nanny and housekeeper in the Annapolis area.
It was while working at General Electric that she met her future husband, Stan (Phillip Stanley) Clarke. With the advent of World War II, Stan flew with the Army Air Force. One of his key roles was bombing the oil fields in Romania. At the time, Romania was Hitler’s major source of oil since he had failed to conquer the Russian fields. Stan’s role in the war was critical and extremely dangerous but he made it back to June.
Meanwhile, during the war, June held various factory and other jobs and was one of the many Rosie the Riveter females who supported the war effort at home.
In 1948 June and Stan were married and had a daughter, Sharon. June and Sharon were very close, and June considered her daughter as her best friend. They thoroughly enjoyed traveling and hanging out together.
Sharon eventually married Dale Gisselman and at retirement they bought a home on Mykonos Court in Herons Glen. When June’s husband Stan passed away in 2009, Sharon persuaded her mom to move from Maryland. Sadly, Sharon passed away in 2018.
June has made numerous friends here in the Glen and fortunately has a loving son-in-law nearby to keep an eye on her and help her as needed. For the most part, however, June is still fairly independent and able to take care of herself other than having given up her license and car.
For June’s upcoming birthday, Dale has planned a party for close friends and family to celebrate the occasion. Happy 100th June!
