Helen May (Varner) Troutman

Helen May Troutman

TEXAS CITY - Helen May Troutman, daughter of Henry McKinley and Alta May Willsey Varner, was born December 10 1925 in rural Benedict, Kansas. She passed peacefully into the loving arms of Our Savior and Lord, November 17, 2021 at 1:45 pm, La Vita Bella, Dickinson, Texas just short of her ninety-sixth birthday.

Helen is survived by her beloved husband of seventy-four years, Herman Russell Troutman; two sons, Thomas Leon Troutman (Anderia McKenzie Troutman), Gilbert Lynn Troutman (Connie Gaspard Troutman); grandchildren, Jon Russell Duckworth, Dana Duckworth Vestal (Brian), Jacob McKenzie Troutman (Natalie), Travis Troutman, Samuel Elliott Troutman, Daniel Austin Troutman (Harley) and Kristina Troutman; great-grandchildren, McKenzie Troutman, Jacob Thomas Troutman, Hank Edward Troutman, Savannah Isis Nunez, Landon Gage Troutman and Bowie Keith Vestal.

She was preceded in death by her beloved daughter, Dee Ann Troutman Duckworth; great-grandson, Elijah Jona Troutman; siblings, George Varner and Hazel Bell Varner VanMatre; as well as her parents, Henry and Alta Varner.

Helen was a long-time member of the First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Texas City, Texas where she was a Sunday School teacher, quilter, choir member, and bell choir member. She became highly skilled in the making of Disciples Cheese Balls for the Texas City Church. She taught in the public schools for more than thirty years in Kansas and Texas City, Texas. She began her teaching career with a “Kansas Emergency Teaching Certificate” in 1943 at Kelley School, rural Altoona, Kansas. Helen also taught several years in one-room schoolhouses near her home in Neodesha, Kansas--following in the tradition of her mother, grandmother, and great-grandfather. At these schools she would arrive early to build a fire in the pot-bellied stove, hand-pump drinking water, sweep and clean the building and clean the out-house for the day.

At the end of WWII, during her first year of teaching, her brother, George Varner, told Herman he had someone he needed to meet and set up a blind date on April Fool’s Day. As fate would have it, Herman was fifteen minutes late and she thought George had fooled her. Herman did show, they went on their date, and the rest is history! They were married July 17, 1947 by the Justice of the Peace in Fredonia, Kansas.

After her Emergency Certification lapsed, she continued her higher education at Pittsburg State Teachers College, earning her Bachelor of Science degree in Education and began teaching once again in Neodesha, Kansas. When the Standard Oil (Kansas) refinery closed in 1969, she and Herman moved to Texas City to create a new home for the family. Where continued to teach in the elementary grades. Helen retired from teaching first grade at Roosevelt Wilson Elementary in Texas City, 1986.

Helen was an avid square dancer. She and Herman belonged to several dance clubs (Heiss Foot and Hangar Squares) and attended numerous state and national conventions. She was an amazing quilter, seamstress, baker, and could make a mean squash casserole, amazing Texas chocolate sheet cake, and unbelievable pumpkin pies. Her recipes will be treasured by her descendants.

Helen was the type of wife, mother, and grandmother “classic” television of the 1950’s attempted to portray--however; WE HAD THE REAL THING! Mom, your family traditions will forever be our family traditions and your legacy will live on.

Helen was greeted with open arms by Our Lord, her loving daughter, Dee Ann, her great-grandson, Elijah, and countless Saints having gone before. Mom, you may have left behind an empty husk, but you will never be gone. So, it’s not “Good-bye” -- it’s merely, we will see you later!

A celebration of life will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, December 11, 2021, at First Christian Church, 2400 21st Street North Texas City, with Reverend Darnell Fennell officiating. Interment will follow at Hayes Grace Memorial Park Cemetery.

Memorials in the form of donations may be made in Helen’s name to First Christian Church, 2400 21st Street North, Texas City, Texas 77590. 

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