Floyd Irwin Helphrey 1920 - 2001

HELPHREY, KRIEGER, CROCKER, MCDONALD

Posted By: Debbie (email)
Date: 3/19/2007 at 10:24:10

The Burlington Hawkeye, June 17, 2001

Floyd Helphrey

Floyd I. Helphrey, 81, of Mount Pleasant, died at 5:30 a.m. Saturday, June 16, 2001, at his home.

Born May 31, 1920, near Mount Union, he was the son of Glen and Mary Krieger Helphrey. On Feb. 21, 1948, he married Wanda Crocker in Mount Union.

Mr. Helphrey was a lifelong farmer and inventor, retiring from farming in 1993. He also worked for Winfield Agri Builders from 1964 to 1985.

He attended Center Country School and was a graduate of Yarmouth High School. He was a member of First United Methodist Church in Mount Pleasant, served on the New London elevator board for six years and was a member of American Legion 58 since 1948. He was a World War II Navy veteran. He joined the Navy in 1942 and was in the aviation branch at squadron 15A, Kingsville, Texas, where he was a line chief. He attended hydraulic school in Chicago and was transferred overseas to C.A.S.U. 31 Pacific Fleet, where he was an aviation machinists mate: hydraulic specialist. He repaired aircraft that had been damaged at sea. He was discharged Dec. 25, 1945.

Survivors include his wife; two sons, Marvin Helphrey of San Diego and Melvin Helphrey of Asheville, N.C.; one daughter, Gayle McDonald of South Riding, Va.; five grandchildren; and one brother, Wendell Helphrey of Winfield.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers and two sisters.

Visitation will begin after noon Monday at Elliott Chapel in New London, where the family will receive friends from 6 until 8 p.m.

The funeral for Mr. Helphrey will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at First United Methodist Church in Mount Pleasant, with the Revs. Edward Peterson and Kiboko Kiboko officiating. Burial with military rites conducted by American Legion 58 will be in Trinity Cemetery in Mount Union.

Memorials have been established for Crossroads Hospice, First United Methodist Church and Trinity Cemetery.