Helen PorterGayMinorcelebratedher97thbirthdayon New Year'sEve, then quietlyslipped intoHeaven twodayslater,
bringing toaclosealonglifedefinedbycompassionandloveoffamily, appreciation ofbeautyin life, and devotion to God.
Born on December31, 1925, in Charleston,W.V.a., herlifewasalreadyshapedbytherecurring themesofrelocationand
deepfamilytiestothe valleys and mountainsofVirginia, in alineagegoing back totheSpottswoodsandthreadingits way
throughRapidan,Roanoke, HighlandCounty, Grafton, West Virginia andeventuallyacrosstheUnitedStates.Prettyand
accomplished, shemet theloveofherlife, Charles B. Minor, when bothwerestudents at theUniversityofKentucky. They
marriedin herparents' front room December18, 1947, and remainedsoulmates, afact unchangedbyCharles'deathin 2015.
AsamilitarywifeHelen madecomfortablehomesforherfamilyinTucson, Ariz., Dayton,Ohio, Boston, Mass.,Columbus,
Ohio, Redlands, Calif.,Worthington,Ohio, andActon, Mass. Butwhen it wastimetoretire, theMinorsreturnedtoVirginia,
wheretheyresidedonCarrsbrookDrivefor over30 years. Their retirement years werehighlightedbytripstoAustralia,
Hawaii, Jamaica, France, and weeklyoutingstoSwannanoaGolfClub.Asociable, outgoingcouple, theydelightedin friends
theymadeovertheyears.
Helen is survived byhercherisheddaughters, Janet Helen Minor(StevenGronbach)ofSunbury,Ohio,andGayleAnn Lechner
(DavdLechner)ofTampa, Fla., andnumerous cousinsand extendedfamily, includingNancySnowofManassas, Va., and
MaryPrice and familyofLexington,Va. Herlegacytohergirls liveson in Janet's passion forwriting and Gayle's talent asa
genealogist andkeeperofthe familyhistory. Helen hada lovingandplayfulrelationshipwithbothsons-in-law, which
includedexchangingalump of coalat Christmasin along-running jokewithSteve, and talking recipes (andsometimesthe
meaning of life)withDavid.
Helen hadaccomplishments inmanyareasthroughoutherfulllife. In gradeschool, Janet once camehomefromschoolto
finda new wardrobeof clotheshermotherhadsewn forherhangingfullypressedandreadytowear, that Helen hadmade
that day. (She ownedthat 1945Singersewingmachineuntiljust afewyears ago.)Sheoncesang asoloin Handel's"Messiah"
whileat theNomeAirForce Base churchchoir. HermanyramblesthroughtheVirginiacountrysidetochasedown family
geneaologyleads withGayleonceenticedhertoclimba6foottall wooden fencewithouthesitation. Shehikedtrails from
AcadiaNationalParkin MainetoYosemitein California, and pointsin between. Shehadan artist'skeen eyeforbalance and
colorthat wasreflectedin everyhomeshedecorated, andin herfastidiousappearance. Shedelightedin complimentson
herclothesand hair fromfellowresidentsandstaffat CommonwealthSeniorLiving.Shepiercedherears at age65. When
CharlieretiredfromtheAir Force inCaliforniatostart hisciviliancareerinOhio, Helen coordinatedthe housesaleand cross-
countrymovebyherself, not wanting todisruptherdaughters' schoolingin mid-year. Shelearnedtodriveastickshift. She
imbuedherkidswithaloveof themountains,ofhistory, ofmusic, readingand dance.
Helen wasasocialworkerbytraining, andherlifelongpassion wasforthewelfareofchildrenin additiontoherown. She
volunteeredat centers developmentallydisabledchildren in Loma Linda,Calif., and Columbus. Once herfamilygently
persuaded hertostopdrivingat age96, shedonatedhercartothePresbyterian Children'sHomeofthe Highlands,in
Wytheville.
Herfamilysuggeststhat in lieuofflowers amost fitting tributewouldbea donation tothePresbyterian Children'sHomein
Helen'sname.
Thefamily wouldalsolike toacknowledge– makethat praise– thestaffmembersat CommonwealthSeniorLiving, witha
specialshout-out to NancyGood; Helen'schurchfamilyat 1st Presbyterian; andthecaregiversat MarthaJefferson Hospital,
whoexemplifycompassionatecare.
AmemorialservicecelebratingHelen'slifewillbeheld11a.m. Friday, January6, 2023, at First Presbyterian Church,500Park
Street, withareception at thechurchtofollowaprivate interment.
Hill & Wood Funeral Service