Grace Lois (Young) Helms, age 97, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma passed away on Sunday, May 2, 2021. Grace was born November 4, 1923 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. A visitation for Grace will be held Thursday, May 6, 2021 from 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM at Hillcrest Presbyterian Church, 6600 S Pennsylvania Ave, Oklahoma City, OK 73159. A funeral service will occur Thursday, May 6, 2021 at 1:30 PM, 6600 S Pennsylvania Ave, Oklahoma City, OK 73159. A burial will occur Thursday, May 6, 2021 at 3:00 PM. A burial will occur Thursday, May 6, 2021 at Sunny Lane Cemetery, 4000 SE 29th Street, Del City, OK 73115.
Grace Young Helms was born 11/4/1943 in Oklahoma City to Will E. Young and Stella Will Ward Young. She graduated from Capitol Hill High School and was married in 1941 to Melvin Eugene Helms. During World War II she helped build war planes at Douglas Aircraft. She then worked as a telephone operator for Southwestern Bell until the family moved to Sulphur in 1953. She returned to Oklahoma City after his death in 1973 and resumed work at Southwestern Bell. She was active in the Telephone Pioneers, D.A.R., Contact, and other civic organizations, and Hillcrest Presbyterian Church. She died May 2 at Emerald Care. Her funeral will be May 6 at Hillcrest Presbyterian Church in Oklahoma City, visitation 12:30, funeral service 1:30., Rev. Dan Junkin officiating. She was preceded in death by her husband, siblings, and parents. She is survived by her daughter Rev. Lois Helms, son in law Keith Gildersleeve, grandchildren Aidan and Laurel Gildersleeve (Blake Jenssen), great grandchildren Thomas and Alexander Jenssen, and a number of nephews and nieces. Her niece Mary Young Phillips was especially important in Grace’s later life, attending to her needs faithfully.
Serving as pallbearers are Richard Bahner, David Young, Paul Young, Charles Young, Terry Johnson, Keith Gildersleeve and Leland Kilgore.
Contributions in Grace's memory may be made to Hillcrest Presbyterian Church
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.AdvantageSouth.com for the Helms family.
