She was born in Slocomb, Alabama but moved to Geneva, Alabama at age 12 and attended Geneva High School and received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Education from The University of Alabama in 1957 and her Masters of Arts in Teaching from Western New Mexico University in 1977. Helen was an active member of Alpha Delta Pi Sorority while a student at The University of Alabama.
Helen was employed as a Business Education teacher for 33 years. She taught in the states of Alabama, Minnesota, New Mexico, Tennessee and Florida. She taught for 21 years in Pensacola and taught as an adjunct at Pensacola State College for four years. She was a sponsor for Future Business Leaders of America for 15 years. Helen retired in 2003.
Her hobbies were flower gardening and sewing. As a grandmother she enjoyed making Halloween costumes for her granddaughters. She was a member of First Baptist Church Pensacola. She was active in Alpha Delta Pi Alumnae group, Escambia Retired Educators Association and Alpha Delta Kappa Sorority for female teachers. She served as president of the Fidelis Nu Chapter of Alpha Delta Kappa in 2006-2007 & 2010-2011. She and her late husband were members of the Pensacola Chapter of Alabama Alumni Association and were charter members of Tide Pride. She and her late husband also enjoyed traveling nationally & internationally during their retirement.
She was preceded in death by her husband, John F. Ward, of Pensacola and her parents Robert Wilton Justice and Ruby (Spivey) Justice of Geneva, Alabama.
She will be missed by her three daughters and son-in-laws: Deborah (Ward) Wrasman and Bill Wrasman of Cookeville, TN; Mary Frances (Ward) Stebbins and John Stebbins of Phoenix, AZ; Carole (Ward) Mapes and Steve Mapes of Milton, GA. Three beautiful granddaughters: Haley Elizabeth Mapes, Mary Kathryn Stebbins and Grace Elizabeth Stebbins. Other surviving family members include her sister and brother-in-law Sarah Kathryn (Justice) and Steve Vickers of Geneva, AL; brother-in-law George Eldridge Ward and sister-in-law Patsy (Galloway) Ward of Dothan, AL; three nephews, Trey Vickers of Geneva, AL; Todd Vickers of Birmingham, AL; Jeff Ward of Dothan, AL. One niece, Leisa Ward Jones of Dothan, AL.
Visitation and funeral services will be held on Monday, August 20, 2012 at First Baptist Church – Pleitz Chapel, 500 N. Palafox Street, Pensacola. Visitation at 10:00am; Service at 11:00am. Burial immediately following at Eastern Gate Memorial Gardens.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Samaritan Hands or the Building Expansion Fund at First Baptist Church, Pensacola.
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