Carol Pace Helton

Carol Pace Helton, 83, of Marietta, Georgia passed away peacefully on June 7, 2019 after a short illness. Helton, the owner of The Salad Factory on Atlanta Rd in Marietta, was a pioneer in the processed produce industry. She started the business in 1972 with a handful of employees and built it into a staple of the Atlanta food service industry providing restaurants, airlines, hotels, and convention centers with processed produce. Carol, along with husband Benny, helped establish the Fresh Produce Processors of America in which she was active until retiring in 2004.

Carol grew up in Hendersonville, North Carolina where she met Benny—her spouse of over 63 years. She attended Hendersonville High and earned a business degree at Mars Hill College. Carol loved to sing and was a member of the Eastside Baptist choir for more than forty years. She also enjoyed reading, walking, playing the piano, and surrounding herself with family.

Carol is survived by husband Benny W. Helton, children Dana Helton (Alan), Tracey Hagin (Joe), and Todd Helton (Susan); grandchildren Lauren Hagin, J. Avery Hagin, Ben Helton, and Will Helton; great-granddaughter Andromeda Hagin, brother Earl Pace and sister Joan Poff, and many nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by mother and father, Carl T. and Bertha Pace, brother Joe Robert Pace and sister Beverley Stearns.

The family received guests from 2:00 – 4:00 pm on Sunday, June 9, 2019, at H.M. Patterson & Son – Canton Hill, in Marietta. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, June 15, 2019, at Eastside Baptist Church- Marietta. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly asks that you consider making a donation in Carol’s name to Eastside Baptist- Missions, 2450 Lower Roswell Rd., Marietta, GA 30068 or online at www.followeastside.com/home/giving (choose: missions)