BETTY HELMICK

Obituary of BETTY HELMICK Mrs. Betty Helmick might have taught you in kindergarten, 1st, or 2nd grade if you attended Triangle Elementary School in Mt. Dora during the 1970's or '80's. If so, you might have learned something about helping others as well as reading, writing, and math. She liked to use songs and role play in her teaching; children often learned math by playing "store" in the playhouse-style "store" in her classroom. During her tenure at Triangle Elementary, Betty noted the nursing facility next door to the school and made sure to include those "grandparents" in service projects with her students. For example, Easter egg hunts were usually a joint venture between Betty's class and the elders next door. Born in West Virginia in 1923 and educated at Mannington High School and Fairmont State College in WV, and Malone College in OH, Betty's Bachelor's degree was in teaching, but her heart was in ministry. She was raised in WV with her brother Gerald and her sisters, Ellen and Ruby; she married her high school sweetheart, Ed Helmick, in 1943, in the midst of World War II. After the war and the birth of her two sons, she and Ed, then a Baptist pastor, ministered for 20 years in Ohio, where she taught Sunday school classes and vacation Bible schools. Their daughter, Joy, was born during these years. In 1972, the couple felt called to move to Florida, eventually settling into a house and workshop on E. Virginia Ave. in Astatula. Over the next twenty years, Betty helped Ed with Sunshine Chapel, a volunteer campground ministry located near Disney, bringing creative church services to visitors from all over the world. She told stories with large, colorful pictures, taught Bible verses, and welcomed everyone with sincere hospitality. After retiring from her teaching career in 1989, she participated in the Lake County Retired Teachers Association and enjoyed growing flowers and tomatoes, camping with Ed in their Winnebago, and baking apple pies and banana cakes for her grandchildren, while she and Ed continued their volunteer ministry of Sunshine Chapel for several more years until Ed's health required them to retire. At 89 years of age, Betty died peacefully April 8, 2013, after a brief illness, having won a game of "all-five" dominoes just a week earlier. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ed, in 2006 and her son Jim in 2003. She leaves behind a sister, Ruby Miller; a son, Robert Helmick; a daughter, Joy Ford; grandchildren, Rob, Dave, Mike, and Greg Helmick, Melanie Himelsbaugh, Josh and Jonathan Ford; and 11 great grandchildren. Visitation The family will receive friends prior to the service Saturday, April 20, 2013 at 10:00 a.m., at the Astatula Baptist Church. Services Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m., Saturdya, April 20, 2013 at the Astatula Baptist Church with Pastor Travis Lane officiating. Interment Interment will follow services at the Astatula Cemetery. In lieu of flowers In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Astatula Baptist Church Building Fund.