William Louis Helbling

William “Bill” Louis Helbling, 98, a former resident of Shaler Township in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, joined Mildred at their heavenly home on Sunday, February 2, 2025. He was born on January 17, 1927, in Pittsburgh, the son of Louis J. Helbling and Catherine C. Schmotzer Helbling. He was married on June 17, 1950 and he celebrated 68 years of marriage with his loving wife, Mildred Altmyer Helbling, until she passed away on March 17, 2019. Bill is the loving father of his “Darling Daughters” Miriam Thompson (Paul) of Port Orange, FL, Ruth Hartman (Wayne) of Seminole, FL, Rita Weirich (Charles) of Valrico, FL, Grandfather “Pap, Pap” of Paul William Thompson, Port Orange, FL, and beloved Brother of his “Baby Sister” Kathleen Gratz, of Palm Springs, CA.

He is preceded in death by his parents and several foster brothers and sisters including David Hitchings, Leonard Reh and Grace Myers. Bill grew up in Carrick, PA and he started working early in life delivering groceries. He carried large boxes of groceries on his shoulders. As a young boy, he enjoyed taking Hawaiian guitar lessons. His mother was delighted when his teacher invited him to his play his guitar on the radio. The song he played was, “You are the only star in my blue heaven.” On Jan 25, 1945, a week after Bill’s 18th birthday, he joined the Navy and he served our country during WWII. His assignments included loading heavy ammunition overhead on ships as well as kitchen duty. He was stationed in San Francisco, California. He retired from work as a machinist at Miller Printing Machinery Company in 1989.

Before he was old enough to run the machines, his job was to file the burrs from machine parts. He worked on a variety of different machines during his career. Just before retirement, he became the company timekeeper. Bill was an amazing husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, friend, and Navy Veteran. He was devoted to his wife, his three daughters and his only grandson. . A faithful Catholic, Bill was a member of St. Anthony’s Church (Holy Spirit St. Matthews Parish) in Millvale, Pennsylvania and Prince of Peace Church, in Sun City Center, Florida. Bill enjoyed socializing at luncheons with his cousins and with the Miller’s Former Employees’ Club at the Grant Bar in Millvale. He often played cards with the Glenshaw Retired Men’s Club. He loved to swim and he sang to polka music, especially while watching Lawrence Welk.

He looked forward to “Happy Hour” and he loved to play cards any time of the day or night with his family and caregivers. He was often the winner of many of those card games! In 2008, Bill relocated with Mildred from Shaler Township, near Millvale, in Pittsburgh, PA, to King’s Point, Sun City Center, Florida. Bill will always be remembered as a kind, caring, friendly, fun-loving guy with a sharp mind for details, conscientiousness about routines, and respect for others by making sure he was always “early on time” for appointments. He had a great sense of humor, loved to laugh, and he was a dedicated Steelers’ Fan. He was also very creative and he could always come up with an idea for solutions to problems by creating his own “contraptions”. Just a kind look from his big brown eyes would help anyone feel reassured that everything would be okay, even during life’s most challenging times. He shared patience and compassion with every living creature and he often worried about the safety of the little Florida lizards that might be lost in the grass when the large lawnmower blades came by his window to cut the grass! Bill appreciated life’s simple pleasures. He marveled at the intricate design of a spider web glistening in the sunlight, he enjoyed animated holiday lights, especially his precious light-up snowman and he looked forward to the visits of his furry friends, especially Angel, Copper, Pelkie and Aura. Bill said that his favorite song was “You are my Sunshine” which is no surprise since he was always ready to greet everyone with a warm sunny smile and a “helloooo”. He enjoyed family gatherings, telling jokes, and singing the “good music”. He always called his family on birthdays and anniversaries to sing the Happy Birthday or the Happy Anniversary song to them. You would know that he especially enjoyed something that he had for dinner or his favorite custard cherry pie because he would say “yummy yum”. He could find something funny to laugh about in every situation and his laugh could make anyone’s day brighter. Bill loved game shows and his dream to be a contestant on The Price is Right came true on November 15, 2004, when his niece was able to get tickets to the show and he qualified as a contestant to “Come On Down”.

Bill enjoyed many birthday celebrations during his long life and he was honored to celebrate his 98th birthday with family, friends and caregivers on January 17, 2025, at an extra special party with decorations by the Activities Director at Sun Terrace Rehabilitation Center. Bill is now celebrating a heavenly reunion with Mildred, his parents, family and friends who were likely eagerly waiting for his arrival!

Friends and family are welcome to visit at H.P. Brandt Funeral Home, 1032 Perry Hwy, Pittsburgh, PA 15237 pm Wednesday. Feb 12, 2025 from 1 to 3 PM and 5 to 7 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be on Livestream at: https://www.facebook.com/SaintMatthewPGH/

For Florida Friends and Family, a Mass in honor of Bill’s life will be celebrated at a later date at Prince of Peace Catholic Church 702 Valley Forge Blvd Sun City Center, FL 33573. Donations “In Memory of William L. Helbling” can be made to: Little Sisters of the Poor 1028 Benton Avenue Pittsburgh PA 15212-1607 Phone 412-307-1100 http://weblink.donorperfect.com/LSPMemorial Or: Sun City Center Emergency Squad 720 Ray Watson Drive Sun City Center, FL 33573 813-633-1411 https://sccems,com/support-us/ Or: Life Path Hospice Chapters Health Foundation 12470 Telecom Drive, Suite 301 Temple Terrace, FL 33637 https://www.chaptershealth.org/foundation/lifepathhospicedonation/