MARTHA JUNE PROWSE

Martha June Prowse, 77, of Panama City Beach, passed away Sunday, October 14, 2007 at her home.June was born March 31, 1930, in Oak Hill, West Virginia, the daughter of the late Clifford V. and Juda B. (Pitzer) Garten. She was preceded in death by her brother Norman Garten. She was a 1948 graduate of Oak Hill High School and attended Beckley College in West Virginia.
She retired in 1988 as a quality control auditor with more than 25 years of service with the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Services. After moving to Florida, she was employed and volunteered as a case manager with the Epilepsy Association of the Big Bend in Panama City. She was a long-time member of the Oak Hill Methodist Church, the Gulfview United Methodist Church, and the United Methodist Women.
June was known for her ready smile that signaled her caring nature and willingness to help. During her career as a social worker with the Department of Health and Human Services she traveled throughout West Virginia making field visits to ensure that families received the help they needed. She was known to personally provide extras for the families, such as clothing, and was even known to chop wood for a client. Her willingness to help continued with her volunteer work and support of a wide range of charitable associations in her retirement. Her strong faith and love of music were expressed through many years of service with the church and choir at both the Oak Hill and Gulfview United Methodist Churches. She especially enjoyed practicing for and singing at Christmas and Easter cantatas. June enjoyed watching professional basketball and spent many years camping with her family. She was always ready for a swim or walk on the beach and never tired of the pure white sand and aquamarine water of her retirement home.
June is survived by her husband, Reverend Bob Prowse and their two sons Steve and Kevin Prowse of Panama City Beach and their daughter and son-in-law Beverly and Chuck Wright of Charleston, West Virginia. Additional survivors are her brother Eddie Garten of Hopewell, Virginia, her sister and brother-in-law Dorothy and John Hunter of Strongsville, Ohio, her three grandsons Derek and Dylan Prowse of Panama City Beach and Shanen Wright of Charleston, West Virginia, four nieces and a nephew, and her loyal dog Chico.
A celebration of June's life is scheduled for Thursday at 11 a.m. in the Gulfview United Methodist Church, Panama City Beach with Rev. Grant Parker officiating. Graveside services will be held Thursday at 2 p.m. in the Red Bay Cemetery, Red Bay, FL. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday. In lieu of flowers, the family request that contributions be made to Covenant Hospice, 107 W. 19th St., Panama City, FL 32405

Wilson Funeral Home