Helen Clara Tripp

Helen Clara Woltmann Tripp A descendent of a pioneer Macomb County family, Helen was born January 21, 1914, in Mt. Clemens, to the late Arthur and Clara (Loose) Woltmann. Following graduation from high school and the Detroit Business Institute, she was employed in the State office of the Works Progress Administration in Lansing. Later she worked in Detroit as Case Coordinator and Assistant Administrator of the Wayne County Chapter of the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis. After her marriage to Percy L. Tripp in 1952, Helen served as volunteer Women's Advisor for the March of Dimes of Eastern Michigan. She was active in the Salk trials, testing a vaccine for poliomyelitis. Helen retired from Tolfree Memorial Hospital after twenty years as Director of Medical Records. Helen was one of the founders and First Life Member of the Ogemaw County Genealogical and Historical Society and Museum, formally serving as President and Secretary. She was a Life Member of the Women's Auxiliary Post # 3775 of the VFW, a former member of the local Hospice of Helping Hands and of the Tolfree Memorial Hospital Auxiliary. Helen was also an active member of St. John's Lutheran Church, where she served as a Sunday-School teacher and Secretary of the Memorial Committee. She was preceded in death by her husband, Percy in 1994, brother Elmer Woltmann, and by her sisters, Thelma Brandenburg and Marion Harder. Surviving are daughters Carol (Paul) Gormley of West Branch, Nancy (Keith) Wright of Maple City; grandchildren Matthew and Michelle Gormley, Natalie and Ashley Wright; sister Irma Russell of Taylors, South Carolina; Keith Wright, Jr.; and many special nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Helen will be remembered as always having a smile for everyone she met, being a great listener, and always putting others first. Helen lived at The Brook Assisted Living in West Branch since January 2004. To all who knew her, including The Brook staff, Helen was a very good friend and listener -a special gift from God. She was deeply loved and she will be greatly missed. Visitation will be held at the Steuernol & McLaren Funeral Home in West Branch Friday, October 3, 2008 from 5-7:30PM Funeral service will be held at Ogemaw Hills Free Methodist Church, West Branch, Saturday, October 4, at 11 a.m. Burial will follow at Campbell Corners Cemetery, next to her husband, Percy. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Helping Hands, St. John's Lutheran Church Memorial Committee, or Ogemaw County Genealogical and Historical Society. (written by Helen in 1997)