Helen Elizabeth Fletcher

Helen (Schultz) Fletcher, 89, passed away on September 18, 2020 at The Arbour at Westminster Manor in Austin, Texas. Her parents were Homer and Charlotte Schultz. Her mother died five days after her birth, and she was raised by her paternal grandparents, Albert and Marie Schultz on their farm in La Grange, MO.

She graduated in 1947 from La Grange High School as valedictorian. In 1951 she graduated from Culver-Stockton College magna cum laude with a B.A. in History and Political Science and a minor in secondary education. After teaching high school history for two years, she graduated from Gem City Business College in Quincy, IL.

She worked for three years for Illinois Bell Telephone in Peoria, IL followed by twenty-one years for Pierre F. Goodrich and his interests in Indianapolis, IN. She was Secretary-Treasurer and Director of Indiana Telephone Corporation and Liberty Fund as well as Executive Director of Liberty Fund. After Mr. Goodrich’s death in 1973 she was President of Indiana Telephone Corporation and Liberty Fund. She was a member of the Mont Pelerin Society and the Philadelphia Society.

On May 27, 1978 she married William Fletcher. Helen and Bill lived in several different cities before retiring to Jacksonville, FL and then Austin, TX. They worked hard to establish themselves in each new place and were known for hosting annual Halloween parties for the neighborhood children. Helen enjoyed being a homemaker and was an especially accomplished seamstress and a wonderful baker. She was always busy with reading, church activities, and investment clubs.

She is survived by her four stepchildren: Jean Maijala (Thomas) of Eau Claire, WI, Ann Olejko (Dr. Terry) of Powell, OH, Dr. Mark Fletcher (Amy) of Zionsville, IN, and Mary Ellen Mathis (Joseph) of Austin, TX; ten step-grandchildren; five step-great-grandchildren; and her half sister, Donna Bauer of West Plains, MO. She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, her paternal grandparents, and her maternal grandparents, James and Helena Pollock.

The family would like to express their appreciation to the staff at The Arbour at Westminster for their loving care of Helen, particularly during the last few months of her life with COVID-19 restrictions.

Burial will follow at a later date in Valparaiso, IN.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to Covenant Presbyterian Church (3003 Northland Drive, Austin, TX 78757) or the Westminster Manor Residents Association Residents Appreciation Fund (Westminster Manor, 4100 Jackson Avenue, Austin, TX 78731).