Barbara J Helton

Funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Sunday in Howe and Yockey Funeral Home, Shelbyville with Pastor Cletis Hicks officiating. Visitation from 4:00-7:00 p.m. Saturday and one hour before services on Sunday. Burial will be in Helton Cemetery, near Shelbyville. Memorials may be given to House of Expectancy or Shelby County Art Show c/o HCE.

Mrs. Helton was born on November 29, 1931 in Shelbyville, the daughter of Forrest Clem and Retha Matilda Holley Hayward. She graduated from Shelbyville High School in the Class of 1949. Barbara worked for the telephone company and the Daily Union both in Shelbyville and also enjoyed several entrepreneurial pursuits. She was a member of House of Expectancy and Women’s AGLOW. Barbara was an accomplished artist and helped with the Shelby County Art Show. The high point of her life was winning the People’s Choice Award for her painting entitled “When King Jesus Comes Again”. Barbara was devoted to her family and her daily Bible study. She married Floyd Eugene “Buck” Helton on March 4, 1951 in Galva, IA while Buck was working on a special assignment for Oliver Implement Corporation. They returned to Shelbyville and made it their permanent home. He died on September 28, 2005.

Surviving are her daughters, Sharon Helton Gregg and husband Brian of Dallas, TX, Dawn C. Strohl of Decatur and Michelle H. Bruner and husband Joel of Dallas, TX; son, Jon Kevin Helton of Shelbyville; grandchildren, Lidia Katelyn Gregg of Dallas, TX, Jason Strohl of Springfield, Senior Airman Aaron Strohl of Shaw Air Force Base, SC, and Jackson and Emma Bruner both of Dallas, TX; brothers-in-law, Clarence “Joe” Helton and wife Darlene of Shelbyville, Carl Helton and wife Elaine of Shelbyville, Dwayne Helton and wife Glennie of Ozark MO, Noel Dean Helton and wife Gloria of Windsor and Delbert Foelsing of Effingham; sisters-in-law, June Morris of Neoga, Bette O’Connor of Milford, MI and Joy Duckett and husband Bill of Shelbyville; and many friends and relatives including, her church family, Pastor Hicks, Patsy Lamb, Marsha White, Bob and Eileen Cooper, Eileen McCabe, Women’s AGLOW friends and her loyal and loving companion Smokey.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Buck; brother, Larry Hayward; brothers-in-law, Raymond and Dick Helton; and sisters-in-law, Thelma Bryson and Marilyn Foelsing.

Gary Hayden, Brenda Elder and staff as well as Joy Duckett will always hold a special place in Barbara’s heart for their kind and loving care.

Send condolences to www.howeandyockey.com.