Helen Orphal

Helen Virginia Orphal died peacefully in her sleep late in the evening of January 6, 2016 wrapped in the arms of her Lord with her daughter by her side She had just celebrated her 98th birthday and 99th Christmas with her family. She went to join John, her husband of 76 years, who preceded her by less than a year. Helen is survived by her son, Dennis Orphal of Pleasanton, CA, and her daughter Linda Brown (Denny) of Ft. Myers, Fla. She is also survived by four grandchildren: Jeffrey Brown, Kathy Brown, Jonathan Orphal and David Orphal; six great grandchildren: Kaylee and Christopher Brown, Kaitlin, Christopher, Logan and Tristan Orphal; and one great-great grandson, Parker Orphal.Helen and John were highschool sweethearts and graduated from high school in Wapakoneta, Ohio, the same school as the astronaut Neil Armstrong. Helen was an outstanding student and placed first in the state of Ohio in a state-wide shorthand and typing contest. After their marriage, John played professional baseball for about ten years and Helen would often relocate each summer to whatever town hosted John's minor league team living in such places as Seattle, WA .and Columbia, S.C. where their son was born. Helen enjoyed the adventures and socialization with the wives of the other ball players. She had fond memories of those early years of marriage. In the off season they lived in Dayton, OH. and they both worked for the National Cash Register Company (now NCR).After retiring from baseball, they moved to St. Marys, OH, where they both worked for Goodyear; Helen as secretary to a Senior Manager at the facility. Both her children grew up in St. Marys, graduated from high school, and went on to obtain college and nursing degrees. In 1976 Helen and John retired to Florida, living nearly 40 years in Ocala, and finally for the last year moved to Ft. Myers, where they were close to their daughter and son-in-law.Helen nearly always had a full time job as an executive secretary in addition to being a wife, raising two kids, and keeping a household. Thinking back, her son and daughter recall that every summer, she would can fruit for the winter. And with all that, we can not recall her ever saying "I'm tired". She lived a fine, happy and full life. She was the rock, the anchor of her family and will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her. "God saw you getting tired and a cure was not to be. He put his arms around you and whispered, come to Me With tearful eyes we watched you and saw you pass away and although we love you dearly we could not make you stay.A golden heart stopped beating, hard hands at rest. God broke our hearts to prove to us He only takes the best."Per her wishes memorials in her name can be made to St. Marks United Methodist Church, 1839 NE 8th Road, Ocala, Florida 34470The family would like to express their appreciation to all the employees at Barkley Place who were so kind and gentle with mother.

Helen Orphal

December 31, 1969 - January 6, 2016