Dr. June D. Iben
Smock
Dr. June D. Iben, 81, died Thursday, Dec. 18, 2008, at her residence in Smock, after a brief illness. She was born June 27, 1927, in Monaca, a daughter of the late John J. and Elsie Frances Iben.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by siblings, Mary Grace Patterson, Elsie Patterson, John B. Iben and Fredrick W. Iben. A veterinarian by profession, Dr. Iben was in private practice for more than 35 years. After graduation from Monaca High School, she went on to obtain a B.S. in biology from Allegheny College in Meadville, and a master's degree in bacteriology from the University of Kentucky at Lexington. In 1955, she became the first woman to graduate in Large Animal Husbandry from the College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University. From 1955-57, she was a member of the Teaching/Research Staff, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State School in Pullman, Wash. She worked for Dr. John Shrader in Irwin from 1958-63, before establishing Mosside Animal Clinic in Monroeville. She hand-raised two lions, four bobcats, a margay, a cougar, many large breed dogs and one domestic cat, named "CC" for common cat. Dr. Iben was a pioneer in the treatment of large exotic cats and traveled to Africa in 1971 to study with George and Joy Adamson (of "Born Free" fame). She was included in the first edition of "Who's Who in American Women in 1958-59," and in 1976, was cited in the "History of Women in Veterinary Medicine" by Calhoun and Houpt. In 1986, she was cited in the "Oklahoma State University Centennial History Series in Veterinary Medicine" as the first woman accepted and graduated from the school. In 1999, she received the "Public Service Award of Merit" from the PVMA for her work in rescuing large exotic cats. In 2005, she was inducted into Monaca's Community Hall of Fame. In 1998, at age 71, she closed her private practice, accepted a part-time position with Dr. William Sheperd, owner of Camelot Veterinary Clinic in Uniontown, and went to live on the premises of his Western PA National Wild Animal Orphanage (WPNWAO) in Smock to help care for rescued lions, tigers, cougars and other exotic cats. She also worked together with Dr. Donald Tummons at the Duck Hollow Animal Hospital in Uniontown. Dr. Iben shared her home with Munchkin, a rescued cougar, and three rescued large breed dogs until her recent illness. She fulfilled her dream of "going to sleep at night listening to the purring of a cougar and the roar of lions" just outside her windows. Dr. Iben was a member of Pleasant View Presbyterian Church in Smock, where she played saxophone and clarinet in the church band and also played in the church bell choir. In addition to a special niece, Marilou Lober, of Greensburg, she is survived by a sister-in-law, Jean Iben, of Beaver Falls; nephews, John Iben, Dr. Glenn Iben, Del Iben, Gordon Iben and David Iben; nieces, Bonnie McCall, Brenda Iben, Nancy Onuska and Sally Hlozek; and many dear friends who will miss her. In accordance with Dr. Iben's wishes, funeral arrangements are private. A memorial service will be held to celebrate Dr. Iben's life in the spring of 2009. Contributions in her memory, if desired, may be sent to Pleasant View Presbyterian Church, RD1, Smock, PA 15480 or the Western PA National Wild Animal Orphanage (WPNWAO), c/o Dr. William Sheperd, Camelot Veterinary Clinic, 169 Sheperd Lane, Uniontown, PA 15401.
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Pleasant View Presbyterian Church,"