Edward Helton

Edward Mills Helton, 86, of Speegleville, passed away Tuesday afternoon, May 13, 2003, at his residence.

SERVICES
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m., Saturday, at the OakCrest Funeral Home chapel, 4520 Bosque Blvd. Rev. Joe Bailey will officiate. Burial will be in the Harris Creek Cemetery.

VISITATION
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at OakCrest Funeral Home, 4520 Bosque Blvd. A memorial videotape of his life prepared by OakCrest Funeral Home will be shown during the visitation.

PERSONAL LIFE
Mr. Helton was born May 30, 1916, in the Speegleville community to Jesse Edward and Effie Margaret (Mills) Helton. He married Jean M. Ruff on January 25, 1942, in Bryan. After graduating from Speegleville High School, he attended Baylor University for a year. He graduated from Texas A & M in 1937. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps in World War II.

Mr. Helton worked for the Soil Conservation Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture until his retirement in 1978. He also farmed in the Bosqueville Community from 1952 ? 1966.

He was a member and deacon at Speegleville Baptist Church. He was formerly a member of the Lions Club and the Kiwanis Clubs in the various communities where he worked.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Arthur L. (Hobby) Helton; his sister, Virginia Wilson, and a grandson, Jonathon Mills Helton.

SURVIVORS
He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Jean M. Helton; son, Bill Helton and his wife Susan of Speegleville; daughter, Peggy Ann McDonald and husband Alex of Magnolia; six grandchildren, Matthew and Jon Helton, Mischa Hutchings, Ian, Dillan and Thomas McDonald, and several nieces and nephews.

MEMORIALS
Memorial may be made to the Speegleville Baptist Church.