Helen Pauline (Pennington) Sneed

Helen was born to Shake Boles (S.B.) and Gillie Ann (Plumblee) Pennington on May 26, 1931 in a log filling station/store just a couple of miles northeast of Horatio, Arkansas. The family lived in quarters at the rear of the store. She was delivered by Dr. Eliza Lee Manning M.D. (“Granny Manning”), one of the few female medical doctors of that era. Dr. Manning was accorded the honor of naming Helen. She named her after two of her favorite people; Helen Leeper and Pauline Manning.

Helen grew up in the hard time period of the great depression and World War II in what may well be called poverty. Helen was a bright student and eager to learn so she excelled in school. However, in 1945 when Helen was 14, her father told her he would no longer be able to send her to school. So Helen decided she would find a way to send herself and she did. At 14 she was on her own.

Helen got a job with Horace and Alta Urrey as a live-in maid and nanny to their little boy, In return they agreed to provide room and board as well as the necessities for attending school in DeQueen, Arkansas. Helen now had her own bedroom and bathroom. Under that arrangement she become one of the best-dressed girls in school as well as one of the brightest.

Helen met Clarence Omar (C.O.) Sneed on Saturday September 11, 1948 and the courtship began. On their first date the following Friday night they went to the DeQueen High School Football game. They went to the Sevier County fair on their second date the following Saturday night. There they won a ceramic pitcher in the shape of a hen. The hen has been with them everyplace they lived during all the years of their marriage. It reminds them of the humble beginning they had.

Helen and Clarence were married on May 26, 1949 (her 18th birthday) at Ashdown, Arkansas in the Baptist ministries parsonage. They spent the first two years of marriage as vagabonds. That ended in 1951 when the Korean War forced Clarence to join the Air Force to avoid being drafted into the infantry.

Helen was with Clarence at all the places he was stationed after basic training. First, at Biloxi, Mississippi (Keesler AFB) from January to June 1952. Next, at Albuquerque, New Mexico (Sandia Base) from July to October 1952. Helen did not work there because she was pregnant. Finally, at Shreveport, Louisiana (Bossier Base, a base inside Barksdale AFB) from January 1953 to September 1955. Their son Gregory Allen Sneed was born at the Barksdale AFB hospital on March 10, 1953. When Gregory was about two years old Helen began working for the Southern Bell Telephone Company as a long distance operator.

When Clarence was released from active duty in September 1955 the family moved to Ruston, Louisiana where Clarence enrolled in Louisiana Tech to pursue a degree in Electrical Engineering. During their time in Ruston (September 1955 to January 1958) Helen continued to work for Southern Bell Telephone Company to supplement the GI bill benefits. Greg learned to get along with his peers at Mrs. Linders Day Care.

Clarence graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering in January 1958. He immediately accepted a job with Convair Aerospace (later General Dynamics and Lockheed) in Fort Worth, Texas. He worked for them for almost 36 years and retired from Lockheed November 1, 1993.

During their time in Fort Worth (January 1958- July 2000) Helen attended Texas Christian University, Arlington State College (now University of Texas-Arlington) and Texas Wesleyan College (now a University). She received her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Texas Wesleyan College on May 31, 1970.

Helen was a talented teacher gifted with the ability to maintain order in the classroom and to instill a thirst for learning in her students. She decided not to take a permanent teaching position but rather substitute teach since that would permit her to choose when and where to work. She was much in demand as a substitute teacher because the principals knew her to be an excellent teacher.

In 2000, after 42 years in Fort Worth, Helen and Clarence moved to Plano to be near their son and his family. That gave them the opportunity to know their grandson very well since they often took him to his activities (school, orchestra, scouts, ROTC, etc.) This forged a close relationship with Hayden over the years in Plano. Hayden went through high school, college, and law school. He took a job in Montgomery, Alabama so he was a distance from Helen and Clarence. Gregory and Donna retired and moved to the country near Ozark, Arkansas. Now it was just Helen and Clarence again like they started more than 70 years ago. They embraced and went on with life together.

Helen is survived by her husband of 72 years, Clarence Omar Sneed; Son, Gregory Allan Sneed (Donna); Grandson, James Hayden Sneed.

She is a much beloved wife, mother, grandmother, teacher, and friend. She will be sorely missed and long remembered.