Helen Whitten

Helen Mae Perry Whitten, age 93, of Mansfield, Ohio, formerly of Lady Lake, Florida and Huntington, West Virginia passed away early Friday morning, February 17, 2012 at her home following an extended illness. She was born January 22, 1919 in Wayne County, WV to the late Timothy and Laura (Sellards) Perry. Helen attended Huntington High School. She was a founding member of the TNT Club, a social group of girlhood friends formed in 1933. She retired from teaching at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church private kindergarten in Huntington. In 1993, two years after the death of her husband, she moved from Lady Lake, FL to Mansfield, Ohio to live with her daughter and son-in-law. She was a member of Berean Baptist Church in Mansfield, Ohio. Helen Whitten will be remembered fondly as a lovely, kind and gracious Christian lady.

She is survived by her daughter, Paula (Don) Smith of Mansfield; four grandsons, Cy J. (Joy) Smith of Mansfield, OH, Paul W. (Heather) Smith of Lewiston, ID, Keith R. Whitten, Jr. of Los Angeles, CA and Tyler L. Whitten of Huntington, WV; four great-grandchildren, Ryan Smith, Brooke Smith, Elliott Smith and Quinn Smith; two sisters-in-law, Ruth Perry of San Antonio, TX and Effie (Samuel) Whitten Davis of West Palm, FL; nephews, A. Michael Perry and Rory L. Perry, both of Huntington, WV, John Perry of Fair Oaks Ranch, TX, V. Frederick Beuhring of Sugarloaf, PA, Jerry Watts of Bucyrus, OH, Samuel Whitten of MI; and nieces, Faye Perry Courtney of Newport, VA, Sally Perry Duffey of Gahanna, OH, Toni Laura Ross of Glen Cove, NY, Susan Perry Alexander of Houston, TX, Madeline Highland of FL, M. Jeanette Miller of Corbin, KY, Kathryn Schwarz of Key West, FL, Marion Perry Jones and Donna Adkins McComas, both of Huntingon, WV. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Homer T. Whitten and son, Keith R. Whitten, both of Huntington, WV; brothers, Zora (Audrey) Perry, Tim (“Spice”) Perry, Norman (Blanche) Perry, Tony (Pansy) Perry, Austin (Virginia) Perry, Robert Perry, Groover (Ruth) Perry; sister, Tennie Perry (Ottis) Watts; nephews, David Perry, Norman “Bud” Perry, Robert Adkins, and James Whitten; niece, Lenore Jean Perry; daughter-in-law, Carolyn Cohen Whitten; and granddaughter, Beri Ann Whitten.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. at the Diamond St. Home of Wappner Funeral Directors, 98 S. Diamond St., Mansfield, conducted by Pastor John Stocks. Friends may call one hour prior to the service from 9:00-10:00 a.m. at the funeral home. Entombment will be in Woodmere Memorial Park, Abbey of Peace Chapel Mausoleum, Huntington, WV on Friday, February 24, 2012 at 11:00 a.m.

In lieu of flowers or gifts, memorial contributions may be made to the Helen M. Whitten Memorial Fund at Mansfield Christian School, 500 Logan Rd., Mansfield, OH 44907.