Helen L. (Wasson) Atkins (1922-2017)

ATKINS, WASSON, WOODWARD, KOLB, GODFREY

Posted By: Mark Christian
Date: 2/4/2017 at 10:48:50

Obituary From Adams Soderstrum Funeral Home, Story County, Iowa.

Helen L. Atkins
February 6, 1922 - January 18, 2017

Helen (Wasson) Atkins was born February 6, 1922 to Charles Eugene and Loveta (Woodward) Wasson near Blairsburg, Iowa. She attended country school near Blairsburg and graduated from Blairsburg High School in 1940. She attended Waldorf College in Forest City, graduating in 1942. Helen worked as an auditor for Rath Packing Company in Waterloo in 1942 and 1943, and then with the Iowa Farm Bureau in Des Moines from 1943 through 1950. She served as Assistant to the Business Manager in the College of Agriculture at Iowa State University from 1950 through 1953. She married Richard Atkins, an Agronomy professor at Iowa State, on November 29, 1952.

Helen was a devoted wife, homemaker, and mother to her children. She encouraged in her children a love of books and reading, an appreciation of nature and flowers, a healthy lifestyle, a passion for music and concerts, and to her daughters, skills in sewing. She taught her children about faith and about God’s Word, the Bible. She gave the gift of hospitality - the ability to open her home to family, friends, and strangers. Above all, she shared the belief that family is special.

Helen was a member of Collegiate Presbyterian Church, where she attended faithfully, served as a deacon, and taught Sunday school. She was a member of the P.E.O. Sisterhood and the Faculty Women’s Club. Helen served on the Board of Directors for the Y.W.C.A. and the Campfire Girls of America. She was an avid bird-watcher, and loved going to Iowa State Cyclone men’s basketball games where she was a season-ticketholder for over fifty years.

Helen died peacefully at 94 years of age on January 18, 2017 at Green Hills Health Care Center in Ames.

Helen is survived by a son, Stephen Atkins of Davidson, N.C.; two daughters, Mary Kay (Roger) Kolb of Cedar Rapids and Barbara Atkins of Ames; five grandchildren, Jeffrey Atkins, Jordan Atkins, Sarah Kolb, Rachel (Kolb) Godfrey and Hannah Kolb.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Richard in 2003; one brother; and two sisters.

Inurnment will be at the Iowa State University Cemetery in Ames.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to Collegiate Presbyterian Church, 159 N. Sheldon Ave., Ames, IA 50014, the Alzheimer’s Association at www.alz.org, or the National Audubon Society at www.audubon.org.

Service
Saturday 21 Jan 11:00 AM
Collegiate Presbyterian Church
159 Sheldon Ave.
Ames, IA 50014

http://www.adamssoderstrum.com/
 

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