Mary H. Helscher

Mary H. Helscher
November 20, 1921 - February 19, 2005
Keota, Iowa
Memorial Service: 1:00 p.m. May 28, 2005 at Powell Funeral Home - Keota
Visitation: 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. May 28, 2005 at Powell Funeral Home - Keota
Interment: May 28, 2005 at Keota Cemetery
KEOTA-Mary H. Helscher, 83, a homemaker, Air Force Colonels wife and long-time Arlington resident, died February 19 at Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington of complications related to diabetes. Born in Kellogg, IA, Mrs. Helscher attended Coe College in Cedar Rapids, IA, where she was a member of the Chi Omega Sorority. It was there that she met her husband of 57 years, Charles Cannon Helscher, of Sigourney. They married in 1941, days before Col. Helscher shipped off to World War II. After the war, she and her family moved several times before settling first at Andrews Air Force Base in the mid-1950s, then in the Arlington Forest and North Barcroft neighborhoods in Arlington where they lived for 40 years. Mrs. Helscher most recently lived at Sunrise Assisted Living in Arlington. Mrs. Helscher was active in the Arlington Forest United Methodist Church for 40 years and held numerous offices in the United Methodist Womens group. For many years she also delivered meals to the homebound and elderly as part of the Meals On Wheels program in Arlington. Mrs. Helscher was a long-standing member of the Arlington chapter of the P.E.O. Sisterhood, a national organization established in 1869 to promote educational opportunities for women. She enjoyed her bridge and book clubs and spending time with her children, many grandchildren and friends. Her husband Cannon, died in 1999. Survivors include four children, David Helscher of Roanoke, Va., Victoria Meleski of Reston, Suzanne Martin of Malvern, PA, and Thomas Helscher of Pacific Palisades, CA; 12 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 28, 2005 at 1:00 p.m. at Powell Funeral Home in Keota with Rev. John Hembry officiating. Burial will be at Keota Cemetery. Visitation will be from 11:00 a.m. until service time Saturday, May 28, 2005, at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Arlington Forest United Methodist Church Memorial fund. Powell Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Keota is handling the arrangements.