My friend June Lund Shiplett passed away very recently, and this blog is a tribute to her.
June was a writer’s writer–two of her early books, “Journey to Yesterday” and “Return to Yesterday”, were great favorites of mine, time travel stories I remember fondly all these years later. She was hugely popular in her day, and appeared on several national TV shows while on tour–I clearly recall watching her on Gary Collins’ “Hour Magazine”, with her beloved husband, Charlie. The host asked Charlie, a down-to-earth midwestern type, how success had changed their lives. Dryly, Charlie replied, “Well, we drive a little better car.”
Eventually, Charlie became seriously ill, and June took care of him with a dedication and goodness of spirit worthy of the strongest romance heroine. This was a forever kind of relationship.
June taught writing courses for years, and won many, many friends with her elfin smile and twinkling eyes. I will miss her, as will countless others whose lives she touched, but I like to think she’s with Charlie again–what a reunion that must be.
I can just see them, beaming at each other and launching into a wild polka.
So Godspeed, my friend, and say hello to Charlie for me.
