Helen Atterbury

Helen Anne Tyler Atterbury, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend, passed away peacefully in Wichita, Kansas, on October 7th, 2023. She was 96 years old. Born in Kansas City, Missouri, on August 3rd, 1927, the only child to Edgar and Anna Tyler, she was married to Earl Wayne Atterbury, of Kansas City, Kansas, for 67 years until his death in 2015. She was a graduate of Northeast High School, Kansas City, Missouri, in 1943.

Helen, a member of the National Honor Society, graduated from high school early, and took a job with her high school teacher, Reaves Peters, who went on to form The Big Eight Conference. She helped to organize their first full-time office and worked as an administrative assistant before being promoted to business manager. She was often heard to say proudly that, when she retired, she had to be replaced with 2 CPAs and a full suite of computers, while all she needed was a double-entry ledger, an adding machine, and a high school diploma. She worked for the Big Eight for 48 years and was the only employee to both start and end the conference and help its transition to the Big Twelve.

She was a dedicated member of Stony Point Christian Church in Kansas City, KS, and sang in the choir for decades. Helen and Wayne were passionate travelers, having visited more than 60 countries, as well as every US state. Helen was a talented painter and made lifelong friends by teaching painting. She was an avid card and game player; her family holds many dear memories of playing games with mom, grandma, and great-grandma and were lucky to be able to play with her until a few months before her death.

She is survived by her only child, Ruth (Drew) Atterbury Lowrey; grandchildren, Derek (Elizabeth) Lowrey and Kristy Lowrey; and great-grandchildren, Grey and Violet, all of Wichita, KS. She was preceded in death by her husband, Earl W. Atterbury.

Services will be held November 10th, at 11am at Northside Church of Christ: 4545 N Meridian, Wichita, KS.

Memorial Contributions may be made to: Know Your Bible, care of Northside Church of Christ.