June Cone Savadge, wife of Will Savadge of Willow Ridge, Hudson, died July 9, at Pine Ridge Gardens, in Hudson, following a long struggle with Alzheimer’s. 

Born in Monroe, Louisiana, on April 15, 1916, June grew up in Snyder, Arkansas. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Hendrix College and pursued studies at the graduate level in organ, piano and choral music at the Juilliard School in New York City. She and Will met at the famed New York residence, International House. In May, 1941, they were married, in Portland, Arkansas.

They made their home in New York City and later lived in Detroit, Michigan, Lake Forest Illinois, Princeton, New Jersey, and Long Grove, Illinois. June taught organ and piano and, during her years in Princeton and Long Grove, worked as a regional director for the Girl Scouts of America.

The Savadges moved to Hudson in 1979 when Will became General Manager at Duro Bag. Always a voracious reader, an avid gardener and traveler, June was an active member of the AAUW, the League of Women Voters and the Hudson Women’s Club. She performed in plays produced by the Valley Arts Guild and the Phipps Center for the Arts. Following Will’s retirement, they wintered at Burnt Store Marina in Punta Gorda, Florida.

In addition to her husband, June is survived by two daughters, Helen of Foxfyre Ranch in  Princeville, Hawaii, and Deborah, a playwright, of New York City, four grandchildren, Miles Horton, an attorney of Evanston, Illinois, Heather Horton, an associate professor at the State University of New York at Albany, Macauley Peterson, a journalist, of Karlsruhe, Germany, and Jed Peterson, an actor, of New York City, son-in-law Geoff Peterson, granddaughters-in-law Jen Bosworth, Isabelle Delemarre, and Sarah Gosnell and nieces Caren Cone Procter and Diane Cone Sperry. She was preceded in death by her brother, Quintin Cone, and by daughters, Judith Savadge (2000) and Barbara June Savadge Horton (2007.)

The family extends profound thanks to the staff of Pine Ridge Gardens and Adoray Hospice Care as well as to June’s devoted friends. A participant in Alzheimer’s research at Mayo Clinic, June specified that her body should be donated to the Mayo Foundation. 

A celebration of her life will be held at United Methodist Church in Hudson on August 20th. Friend of the family, Reverend Dan Bruch, will offer the memorial service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be sent in June’s name to Bridge the Gap Fund, Hudson Library, 700 First Street, Hudson, WI, 54016.