Helga Inge Vest

Helga Inge (Ortmann) Dellinger Vest of Arlington, VA, beloved mother, grandmother and cherished friend of many went to be with the Lord in the early morning hours of Wednesday, April 10, 2024, at age 97. She was the last of her generation. Helga was born the only child of Richard Adolph Georg and Anna Pauline (Knoll) Ortmann in Neu Koln, Berlin, Germany, on June 22, 1926. Helga was predeceased by her husbands Lawrence Edward "Eddie" Dellinger and Alfred Teddy Vest, stepdaughter Barbara Ann (Vest) Gaddy, and grandson Richard Geer. She is survived by her son, Lawrence Edwin "Larry" Dellinger of Arlington, VA, and daughter, Inge Dellinger Flester (Steve) of Williamsburg, VA, stepdaughter Gloria Geer-Wood of Matthews, NC, granddaughters Linda Gloria Geer of Indian Trail, NC, Teresa Geer Harrison (Richard) of Commerce, GA, and Kimberly Gaddy Beavers (Buford) of North Augusta, SC, great-grandson Justin Shaut of Monroe, NC, great-grandson Jackson Beavers and great-granddaughter Genivive (Ginny) Beavers of North Augusta, SC. Post WWII, Helga met an American soldier and immigrated to the United States in 1948 where she subsequently married Sgt. Eddie Dellinger of Fairfax, VA. She was raised in Schmargendorf, an inner southwest suburb of Berlin, Germany. Helga studied drafting in a technical school in Berlin. She worked as a cartographer for her entire career until her retirement in 1976 from the U.S. Geological Survey when she married Alfred "Ted" Vest of Arlington, VA. In addition to many other talents, Helga was very mechanically inclined, a skill she inherited from her father, an electrician. She loved travel, gardening, cooking, baking and entertaining, knitting, crochet, sewing and scrapbooking with her daughter, Inge. She also enjoyed playing Dominoes and Farkle with her friends and family. Helga was an active, long time member of the Washington Saengerbund and the Concord Club of Washington, DC. She had many friends and was loved by all who knew her. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Washington Saengerbund, 2434 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20007 or via the website www.saengerbund.org, the American Cancer Society or a charity of your choice.