Russell "Gene" Helms

Russell Eugene "Gene" Helms passed away on Saturday, August 11, 2018 at the "young" age of 92. Gene was born on April 18th, 1926 in Fountain County. Gene was the oldest, and only son, of 6 children born to Russell and Ida Helms. He graduated from Kingman High School in 1944 where he lettered in baseball and basketball, as well as being the senior class president. After graduation Gene enlisted in the US Navy. He served as a radio man in WWII from May 1944 to June of 1946. He re-entered the Navy during the Korean Conflict and served from June 1951 to March 1953.

On January 24,1948 Gene married Arletta (Lettie) Spivey in Fountain County. They celebrated 66 years of marriage before her passing in 2014.

Gene was employed at R.R. Donnelley & Sons from 1951 until his retirement in 1987. He started as a timekeeper in Dept. CA and moved up to head time standard estimator, pre-payroll supervisor, production planning foreman and then to foreman of Dept. CFG.

Gene was a member of the American Legion, serving on the Honor Guard. He was also a member of the Eagles, Elks, and VFW. Gene was honored to have gone to Washington DC with the Honor Flight on two separate occasions.

Gene will be greatly missed by his surviving daughters, Regina (Steve) Sager, Mona (Mark) Hampton, and Lisa (Mark) Cope, all of Crawfordsville. Also surviving are 7 grandchildren: Ramona (Mike) Jenkins Haboush of Lizton, Amy (TJ) Jenkins Koepp of Brownsburg, Nicholas (Anna) Cope of Brownsburg, Megan (Dylan) Hampton Wray of Crawfordsville, Emily Cope of Crawfordsville, and Mitchell (Haley Sharpe) Hampton of Rushville. He is also survived by 9 great-grandchildren. Gene's surviving sisters are: Ruth Kerns, Beverly Dennis, Mary Jane Hendricks, all of Crawfordsville and Tootie Clawson of Veedersburg.

Gene was proceeded in death by his parents, his wife Arletta, grandson Eric Jenkins, great-grandson Kayne Jenkins and his sister Lois Hand.

The family would like to send special thanks to the nursing staff at Wellbrooke for all the love and care he received over the last 4 years.

Visitation will be at Sanders Priebe Funeral Care, 315 S Washington Street, Crawfordsville on Wednesday, August 15, 2018 from 4:00pm till 7:00pm. The funeral will be Thursday, August 16, 2018 at 11:00am at the funeral home with Pastor Rod Curran officiating. Burial will follow at Kingman Fraternal Cemetery with military rites by the Legion Post 72 Honor Guard and the US Navy. Share memories and condolences online at www.sandersfuneralcare.com

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Gene's memory to: Honor Flight Inc, Attn: Diane Gresse, 175 S. Tuttle Rd, Springfield, OH 45505. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.