Helen Charlotte Love, age 93, passed away March 11, 2018, with her family by her side.
She was born May 16, 1924 to Charles and Eva Smith at their home in West Palm Beach, Florida. Three brothers followed; Frank, Charles and Paul Smith. She was preceded in death by her husband Glen and son Michael.
Helen’s early life was filled with adventure. Cuba was the new frontier for many Americans. Her parents met and married there. Her father worked for famous American fruit companies managing farms of sugar cane and pineapple. They called Isabel, Cuba, their second home.
There she learned to speak Spanish fluently and became acquainted with a variety of cultures, that fascinated her all her life. She also witnessed the sad consequences of prejudice.
Each year she and her family went back to their home in Florida to visit family. They would board the ocean liner, enjoying formal dress for dinners. When landing at Key West, they would take the famous Key West Railroad inland.
At 13 years of age, her parents moved back to the states, Waynesville, North Carolina and the beautiful Smoky Mountains, again, a taste of different cultures, she would say with a smile. She was often referred to as a “Yankee.” It was there that she finished her public education.
Upon graduation, she moved to Washington D.C. and worked for the Veteran’s Administration as a proofreader. Many a day a future president walked past her desk. It was at that job she saw the sad effects of war.
It was in D.C. that she met her husband Glen. She and a girlfriend had been to the USO after work. When they were headed home, two sailors approached them. Glen put his arm around her waist and whisked her back to the USO. Knowing our quiet and proper Mother, we were a bit surprised. She said she was embarrassed. Allowing him to put his arm around her waist, made her look like a pick-up. He said it was love at first sight. They married April 7, 1946. That pick-up lasted 63 years.
Upon his release from the Navy, they move to Illinois, settled in and started their family of three: Michael (Linda), Roy (Laura), and Lisa Fletcher (Christopher). Those two sons gave them seven beautiful grandchildren and many great-grandchildren to follow.
In 1968 they decided to farm and moved to Edina, Missouri, she truly was a domestic engineer. She was up early with the children and maintained a large garden (We’re talking LARGE), canning fruits, vegetables, juice, jams, jellies and pickling. She was an excellent cook, many were the request for her spaghetti and meatballs and fresh breads. Her needlework was intricate; many were the happy recipients of her embroidery and sewing projects. She made more than one little girl happy having the best dressed Barbie.
Most important, she was a spiritually minded person and in July 1959 she chose to become one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. It was her faith that kept her strong during the storms of life and offered her encouragement. So much so that she shared positive thoughts form the scriptures on a regular basis with others. She thought there could be nothing more wonderful than living on a paradise earth as it was meant to be under God’s heavenly kingdom. Among her favorite scriptures was Revelation 21:4, “And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry, nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.” And Isaiah 25:8, “He will swallow up death forever, and the Sovereign Lord Jehovah will wipe away the tears from all face.”
It’s those verses that will now encourage those close to her.
She will be laid to rest beside her husband Glen in Colony, Missouri.
We, the family, would like to thank those that aided us with her care: Sage Hospice and Palliative Care, Divine Grace Assisted Living in Mesa, and our Family of Faith, for meals, cards, text, flowers and words of encouragement.
A Viewing will be held March 23, 2018 at Hudson Rimer Funeral Home, Edina, Missouri, from 6-8 p.m.
A Private Grave Side Service in Colony, Missouri, for family will be held Saturday March 24, 2018. In lieu of flowers donations may be made on JW.ORG.
