Obituary of June Irene Rainey

Col. June I. Rainey USAF, Ret.

June Irene Rainey passed away February 27, 2018 in her home at The Quarry in Vancouver, WA.  Her birthday was June 16, 1922. She was the second of seven children born to Paul and Della (Sweeney) Rainey.

After graduating Washougal High in 1940 June worked in the paper mill.

June was a patriot. In 1943 she enlisted in the US Coast Guard (Spars), serving through WWII as a cook and chief commissary steward and was discharged as a Chief Petty Officer in 1946.

She then attended the University of Washington on the GI Bill graduating with a BS in Sociology.

At the start of the Korean War June joined the Air Force. She worked as a Personnel Officer her entire career. Through her career June traveled the world. She lived in Germany, Great Britain, Japan, Okinawa, and Korea with brief stays in Italy and Spain. While in Germany June obtained her Masters Degree at night school from Ball State University.

In 1972 June was promoted to Colonel. She was a trailblazer for all women. At the time she received this promotion only 3% of the military were women. Her awards included the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, and AF Commendation Award. June retired in 1977. 

The highlight of her career was in 1945 while in the Spars. She was assigned to the Honor Guard of the United Nations when it was formed in San Francisco.

After her retirement June was a trustee at the Camas Library for 10 years.  June is survived by her sister Barbara (Rainey) Runyan and her husband Paul. June was the beloved advocate, mentor, and role model to her 67 surviving nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents Paul and Della and her siblings Veda, Donald, Lauren, Leola, and Kenneth. 

June loved those who found their way into her life and was loved in equal measure.

Graveside Services will be held at the Camas Cemetery Saturday March 10, 2018 at 11:00am. She will be buried with full military honors. A Celebration of Her Life will follow at The Quarry.  Straub’s Funeral Home & Columbia River Cremation in Camas is in charge of the arrangements.  Memorials may be made to the Camas Library or the Salvation Army.  To send condolences or to sign the online guestbook please visit www.straubsfuneralhome.com.