June Marie Gilhousen Harper, 91, of Columbia died Sunday, November 5, 2017. Born in Indiana County in Pennsylvania on April 1st, 1926, she was the daughter of the late Blair Albert and Gertrude King Gilhousen. After the death of Gertrude when June was just two years old, she was lovingly raised by her father and stepmother, Ruth King Gilhousen.

Following high school, a young June Gilhousen joined the Army Nursing Corps, spending three years in nursing school before officially joining the Army and serving as an Army nurse. She spent most of her time in Verdun, France, which enabled her to travel extensively throughout Europe. While in France, June met a hospital administrator named Capt. Ardis C. Harper, Jr. The two were married six months later. June was honorably discharged from service in September 1956, having attained the rank of 1st Lieutenant. For the next 16 years, June and Ardis Harper grew and raised their family. Following Maj. Harper's retirement from the Army in 1962, the growing family moved to Springwood Lake in NE Columbia, and it remained the family home until 2016.

In 1971 following the death of her husband, June undertook the task of raising nine children, ranging in age from 2 to 14 years old. Nearly 24 years after leaving her nursing profession to raise her family, she returned with the help of Midlands Technical College and reentered the workforce as a registered nurse at Baptist Hospital retiring in 1996. June's greatest joy in life were her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and her love for Jesus Christ, her Lord and Savior.

Surviving are her three daughters, Addie Ruth Harper Calvitt (Jeff), June Marie Rodriquez and Betty L. Barron; and six sons, Blair A. Harper, Jeffrey G. Harper, Jon M. Harper, James W. Harper, George E. Harper and Robert L. Harper (Beth); along with many grandchildren and great grandchildren. In addition to her parents and husband, June was preceded in death by a son, Ardis C. Harper, III; her sisters, Dorothy Gilhousen, Shirley Gilhousen, and Betty Gilhousen Stephens; and a brother, James E. Gilhousen.

The service for Mrs. Harper will be held at 11 o'clock on Thursday, November 9, 2017 Fort Jackson National Cemetery, 4170 Percival Road, Columbia. The family will receive friends Wednesday, November 8th from 6 until 8 o'clock at Shives Funeral Home, Trenholm Road Chapel, 7600 Trenholm Road Ext., Columbia.

The family request memorials be made to First Baptist Church, 1306 Hampton Street, Columbia, SC 29201.