Helen W. Stokes, age 95, of Warren, Ind., passed away on Aug. 18, 2011. Born on Oct. 2,1915, in Muncie, she was the daughter of Edgar T. and Stella J. (Clendenin) Wellington.
Helen graduated from Burris High School in Muncie in 1932, as one of the two first graduates. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Ball State University in 1936, then went on to earn her master’s degree from Iowa State. She also did additional graduate work at Columbia University. Over the years Mrs. Stokes taught at various schools including the Hamler Ohio High School from 1936-1940, and South Dakota State College from 1942-1944. She also taught clothing and textiles at Michigan State University from1944-1945, and the University of Alabama from 1946-1950. Helen married Benjamin W. Stokes on July 13, 1952, in Muncie, Indiana. They resided in Fortville until moving to the Methodist Memorial Home (now Heritage Pointe) in Warren, Ind., in April of 2000. Mrs. Stokes had also previously served as a 6th grade teacher and later as the elementary librarian at Mt. Vernon Schools in Fortville from 1969-1980. Mrs. Stokes was a member of the Fortville Book Review Club, the Red Hat Club, the Indiana Retired Teachers Association, and active in the United Methodist Church and the United Methodist Women. She was also previously a member of the Delta Kappa Gamma Sorority and the American Association of University Women.
Surviving her are her husband, Benjamin W. Stokes of Warren; son, Samuel E. (Lori) Stokes of Auburn, Ind.; and grandsons, Benjamin E. Stokes, Austin T. Stokes, and Cameron M. Stokes.
Preceding her in death were her parents.
Visitation will be from 2 p.m. until 5 p.m on Sunday, Aug. 21, 2011, at Erlewein Mortuary in Fortville. Funeral services will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 22, 2011, at the Applegate Chapel at Heritage Pointe in Warren. Additional visitation will take place for one hour prior to the service.
Friends may sign the online guestbook at www.erleweinmortuary.com or email condolences to [email protected].
