Biography of Ronald 'Bunky' Helm ; Jefferson Parish, Louisiana
Submitted by N.O.V.A. July 2005




Submitted to the LAGenWeb Archives
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Ronald Anthony "Bunky" Helm Sr., owner of Helm Paint and Supply Inc., died 

Tuesday of cancer at his home. He was 63.



Mr. Helm was born and raised in New Orleans and lived in Kenner. He attended 

Holy Cross High School on a football scholarship.



Mr. Helm, who got into the paint business at 20, founded Helm Paint and 

Supply in 1970, opening his first store on Earhart Boulevard in New Orleans. 

He later added stores in Metairie, Kenner and Mandeville. Sixteen members of 

his family worked in the business.



Helm is the exclusive New Orleans dealer for Benjamin Moore paint. While the 

company supplied paint for large jobs, such as Oak Alley plantation, Mr. 

Helm said its focus was on serving homeowners and do-it-yourselfers as much 

as contractors.



He was well-known for his TV commercials featuring him at the helm of a 

recreational boat, saying, "Let us steer you right."



Survivors include his wife, Barbara V. Helm; two sons, Ronnie and Joey Helm; 

three daughters, Kelly Meyn, Kim Bowes and Kristy Starring; his father and 

stepmother, Henry and Rosa Helm; a brother, Roy Helm; three sisters, Corliss 

Schmidt, Joyce Uhl and Rosemary Abadie; and seven grandchildren.



A Mass will be said Thursday at 10 a.m. at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home, 

5100 Pontchartrain Blvd. Visitation will be today from 6 to 10 p.m. and 

Thursday from 8:30 to 10 a.m. Burial will be in All Saints Mausoleum.



Times Picayune  11-19-1997