Helen Bender Helfrich

HELEN BENDER HELFRICH Helen Adair Helfrich, daughter of Floyd and Lelia Vivian Pickering Bender, was born, December 29, 1917 in Indianapolis, Indiana. She departed this life, Saturday, February 28, 2015, in Osage Beach Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center, Osage Beach, Missouri at the age of ninety-seven years, one month and thirty days. She was preceded in death by her parents and three siblings, Jean Alder, Winfred Kelly and Norma King. Survivors include three siblings, Charles R. Bender and wife Shirley A. of Lafayette, Indiana, Malcolm Bender and Joan Hewitt both of Kokomo, Indiana and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends. Having been born the oldest of seven siblings, Helen was always involved in the care of her brothers and sisters. She was taught to fly an old single engine cub plane at Ruzicka field near Kokomo, Ohio and later married Richard Williams, an airplane mechanic. During World War II, she worked as an electronics mechanic at Curtis Wright and continued her flying. They soon acquired land and opened Sabina Air Park where she gave flight instructions, taught ground school and ran the airport’s charter flights. At the time, she logged over 11,000 flying hours, served as a Federal Aviation Agency Flight Examiner of which, she was only one of four females qualified nationwide. After Richard’s death she married Robert Helfrich of Fayette County, Ohio. She then embarked on a new pastime, the racing of standard bred horses. Helen was a member of St. Anthony Catholic Church in Camdenton. She was a loving sister and aunt and a caring neighbor and friend. We celebrate her life and her accomplishments and will treasure the memories she created for her family and friends. Funeral services will be held at 11:30 a.m., Thursday, March 5, 2015 in Allee-Holman-Howe Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Old Linn Creek Cemetery, Linn Creek, Missouri. Memorial donations may be made to Wounded Warrior Program and left at the funeral home. Allee-Holman-Howe Funeral Home of Camdenton is assisting the family with arrangements.