Helen S. Thompson

Helen Thompson (Sopko) passed away December 19, 2020 at the age of 91. A native of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, Helen graduated from Franklin High School. After high school, she worked as an administrative assistant for Louis J. Timchak Real Estate, and later, as a marketing and sales representative for Crown American Hotels at the Johnstown Sheraton Hotel.

Helen was preceded in death by her parents, John and Mary Sopko (Rygel) and her first husband of 25 years, John R. Henzelman (1977).

Helen was also preceded in death by her siblings: John Motiska, Michael Motiska, John Sopko, Ann Schnell, and Mary Kitsko.

In 1981, Helen again found love and married Lawler “Tommy” N. Thompson. After retirement, they relocated to New Bern, North Carolina, where they lived until Lawler’s passing in 2018.

Helen was an avid dog lover and had a particular affinity for her miniature schnauzers: Max, Little John, McDuff and Molly. Helen and Tommy had many close friends from Tabernacle Baptist church and enjoyed spending time with the “Bo Club” that met weekly at the local Bojangles restaurant—solving the world’s problems.

Following Tommy’s passing, Helen relocated to Birmingham, Alabama to be close to her family, Ronald and Patricia Lantzy (Kitsko). Helen is survived by nephew, Dr. Dennis Kitsko, Washington, Pennsylvania and nieces, Deborah Segura, and Joy Lynn String, both of Etters, Pennsylvania.

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Helen can be made to:Tabernacle Baptist Church (building fund), 616 Broad St. N, New Bern, NC 28560, OR Colonial Capital Humane Society, P O Box 326,

New Bern, NC 28563.

Interment will take place at Montevallo National Cemetery, Montevallo, Alabama in January 2021.