June Margaret Atkinson, 86, of Mount Dora, passed away on Friday, August 2, 2019.  She was born to the late Sidney and Margaret Birch in Coventry, England  U.K. on October 20, 1932.

June attended the Welsh National School of Medicine, graduating 1956.  She practiced medicine in Cardiff, Wales until moving to Montego Bay, Jamaica in 1964.  After living and working there for several years, she relocated to the United States, continuing her practice and eventually landing in Mt. Dora as Lake County Public Health Director.  She eventually retired from the Florida Department of Health as the Public Health Director for Volusia County.

June was an avid traveler and explorer. She visited numerous countries in six out of seven continents (with Antarctica being too cold for her tastes).  In time, she fully filled 8 passport books with entry/exit and visa stamps from the numerous places she explored.  She was also an active member of the Florida Trail Association and Kiwanis as well as volunteering at the local public library and City of Mount Dora Visitor Center.

She is survived by her daughters, Rachel (Jim) Beckett of Celebration and Rhiannon (Roy) Houchins of Kissimmee; Her grandchildren, Sarah (Skilan) Ortiz of Winter Garden, Derek (Tonya) Beckett of Gold Bar, Washington and Ryan Houchins of Kissimmee; great grandchildren Tristan and Declan Ortiz; and brother, George Birch of Madison, Wisconsin.

June requested a simple funeral and, pursuant to her wishes, will be interred in a brief grave side service in Pine Forest Cemetery in Mount Dora on Saturday, August 10 ^th at 11:00am.  Friends are welcome to attend.  In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to VITAS Health Care online at www.vitascommunityconnection.org