Helen E. Hankinson

RICHMOND, Ind. – Helen E. Hankinson, age 92, of Richmond, passed on Sunday, September 18, 2011, at Arbor Trace Exceptional Senior Living. She was born September 29, 1918, in Bluffton, Ind., one of six children of Nellie Beatty Deam and Earl Raymond Deam. Helen was a 1936 graduate of Bluffton High School. She attended Asbury College one year and was a graduate of Ball State University with a B.S. Degree in 1940. After teaching two years at Trotwood, Ohio, she married her husband, James H. Hankinson in Hattiesburg, Miss., in 1942. Several years were spent in Florida and Louisiana until he left for the South Pacific. She worked as chief clerk at Casad Ordinance Depot, Fort Wayne, Ind., during his deployment. After the war they spent time at Indiana University working on their master’s before moving to Dayton, Ohio, in 1947 where Mr. Hankinson took a retail position with Sears, Roebuck and Co. and she accepted a position in the book department at the Rike-Kumler Co. The following years were spent raising a family of three children and by spending seven years as a Camp Fire Leader and holding various offices in PTA and the Riverdale Congregational Church. A foreign language program was organized in the elementary school for the benefit of children. She was a substitute teacher in the Dayton School System, taking a position at Meadowdale High School from 1964 to 1966. At that time Mr. Hankinson accepted a new position with Sears that moved the family to Richmond, Ind. She attended classes at IU Extension and Miami University and accepted a full-time teaching position in Preble County in 1970, retiring from there in 1980. During the retirement years she became a professional artist, continued classes at IU East and entered the various art exhibits. In 1989 she accepted a part-time position at Rogers Jewelry Store and retired from there in 2004 after 15 years. Helen was a member of Central United Methodist Church. She became a member of Self-Realization Fellowship, Los Angeles, Calif., in 1968. Her husband preceded her in death in 2000. Her family was a great joy to her, especially her five grandsons, Jarrett and Sean Hankinson, Randy Blunk, Stuart and Matthew Sullivan, and two great-grandsons, Jace Hankinson and Korbin Sullivan. Additional survivors are her three children, Jayne Blunk of Richmond, Judith Ann (Steve) Sullivan of New Paris, Ohio, and John Hankinson of Albuquerque, New Mexico; and her sister, Betty (Dr. Kenneth) DeVoe of Greenwood. She was preceded in death by two sisters, Arlue Whitlock and Erma Gregg, and two brothers, James Deam and Earl Deam. Visitation for Helen E. Hankinson will be from 12-1:00 p.m. Thursday, September 22, 2011, at Doan & Mills Funeral Home, 790 National Road West, Richmond. Funeral service will be at 1:00 p.m. Thursday, September 22, 2011, at Doan & Mills Funeral Home with Rev. Eldon Harzman officiating. Burial will be in Earlham Cemetery. RICHMOND, Ind. – Helen E. Hankinson, age 92, of Richmond, passed on Sunday, September 18, 2011, at Arbor Trace Exceptional Senior Living. She was born September 29, 1918, in Bluffton, Ind., one of six children of Nellie Beatty Deam and Earl Raymond Deam. Helen was a 1936 graduate of Bluffton High School. She attended Asbury College one year and was a graduate of Ball State University with a B.S. Degree in 1940. After teaching two years at Trotwood, Ohio, she married her husband, James H. Hankinson in Hattiesburg, Miss., in 1942. Several years were spent in Florida and Louisiana until he left for the South Pacific. She worked as chief clerk at Casad Ordinance Depot, Fort Wayne, Ind., during his deployment. After the war they spent time at Indiana University working on their master’s before moving to Dayton, Ohio, in 1947 where Mr. Hankinson took a retail position with Sears, Roebuck and Co. and she accepted a position in the book department at the Rike-Kumler Co. The following years were spent raising a family of three children and by spending seven years as a Camp Fire Leader and holding various offices in PTA and the Riverdale Congregational Church. A foreign language program was organized in the elementary school for the benefit of children. She was a substitute teacher in the Dayton School System, taking a position at Meadowdale High School from 1964 to 1966. At that time Mr. Hankinson accepted a new position with Sears that moved the family to Richmond, Ind. She attended classes at IU Extension and Miami University and accepted a full-time teaching position in Preble County in 1970, retiring from there in 1980. During the retirement years she became a professional artist, continued classes at IU East and entered the various art exhibits. In 1989 she accepted a part-time position at Rogers Jewelry Store and retired from there in 2004 after 15 years. Helen was a member of Central United Methodist Church. She became a member of Self-Realization Fellowship, Los Angeles, Calif., in 1968. Her husband preceded her in death in 2000. Her family was a great joy to her, especially her five grandsons, Jarrett and Sean Hankinson, Randy Blunk, Stuart and Matthew Sullivan, and two great-grandsons, Jace Hankinson and Korbin Sullivan. Additional survivors are her three children, Jayne Blunk of Richmond, Judith Ann (Steve) Sullivan of New Paris, Ohio, and John Hankinson of Albuquerque, New Mexico; and her sister, Betty (Dr. Kenneth) DeVoe of Greenwood. She was preceded in death by two sisters, Arlue Whitlock and Erma Gregg, and two brothers, James Deam and Earl Deam. Visitation for Helen E. Hankinson will be from 12-1:00 p.m. Thursday, September 22, 2011, at Doan & Mills Funeral Home, 790 National Road West, Richmond. Funeral service will be at 1:00 p.m. Thursday, September 22, 2011, at Doan & Mills Funeral Home with Rev. Eldon Harzman officiating. Burial will be in Earlham Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to: Preble County Fine Arts Center, 601 Hillcrest Drive, Eaton, OH 45320. Condolences may be sent to the family via the guest book at www.doanmillsfuneralhome.com

Helen E. Hankinson

September 29, 1918 - September 18, 2011