Obit of Strom, Helen M. - Comanche County, Oklahoma Submitted by: Gene Phillips 30 Jul 2006 Return to Comanche County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/comanche/comanche.html ========================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ========================================================================== ::Rose Hill Cemetery--OKC OK Strom, Helen M. Helen M. Strom, age 83, of Oklahoma City, passed away Palm Sunday, Sunday, April 13, 2003, after a lengthy illness. She was born January 9, 1920 in Faxon, Oklahoma to Victor and Elfa Lawson. She grew up in Lawton, Oklahoma, attended the University of CalBerkely and graduated from Hill's Business College, Oklahoma City, with a degree in accounting. While living in Lawton after graduation she met 'the most handsome officer' at Fort Sill, the love of her life, Robert E. Strom. They married in Santa Fe, New Mexico September 16, 1953 and were married 47 incredible years. Helen enjoyed a life as an accomplished accountant, volunteer, and household 'social director'. Helen worked as an accountant for Carpet City and as an auditor for a Big 8 Accounting firm in downtown Oklahoma City before being hired at the Denman Company where she stayed until she retired. Helen was also active at Central Presbyterian Church where she was a leader in various capacities. Helen played the piano for pre-schoolers, taught 5th grade Sunday School and along with Bob served as a Jr. High and Sr. High Youth Leader. She and Bob loved to dance and many times would stay out later than their adult children they lovingly referred to as the 'young pups'. The home was filled with laughter, music, food. Friends joined for Neighborhood Bridge Parties, the annual 'Neighborhood Christmas Party' featuring the infamous Swedish rum punch and for outdoor summer parties complete with homemade banana ice cream. There was never a weekend that you couldn't find something going on at the Strom household. In the Fall of 1973, Bob brought home 2 tennis rackets thus filling the void of having an empty nest. Helen became quite the tennis player, playing in the Missouri Valley tournaments and being ranked in the top 20 in her age group. Bob and Helen were chartered members at Woodlake Racquet Club playing every morning at 6:00 am. for more than twenty years until 1999, when Helen and Bob had to retire from the courts. Regardless of Helen's successes in the businessworld or on the tennis courts, she was most proud of her successes as a wife and mother. She was deeply devoted to her husband, Bob, and their marriage was truly a model for all to follow. She gave selflessly to her family to make sure they had what they needed whether it was sitting patiently through endless piano practices, sitting up waiting for the girls to come in from dates, or the care she gave to Bob's Aunt Vi, bringing her into the home and providing for her every need until her death. Helen was a Christian woman throughout her life and was a blessing to all who knew her. She truly was a shining light in all of our lives and she will be greatly missed. Helen was preceded in death by her husband Robert E. Strom, her father Victor Lawson, mother Elfa Lawson, her brother Jack Lawson, sister Beatrice Martin. Helen is survived by her daughters and their families, Sandra Kay and Steve Cullinan and grandaughters Amanda and Kathleen Cullinan of Laguna Nigiel, California; Jill and Jeff Lipow and grandaughters Hanna and Amanda Lipow of Los Angeles, California; and Robin and Jerry Kite of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Helen is also survived by brothers Gerald and Vernetta Lawson, Los Angeles; Cecil and Martha Lou Lawson, Lawton, Oklahoma; and sister Dorothy and Kenneth Youngblood, Lawton, Oklahoma as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Helen loved her family and cherished her friends and will be missed greatly by all. We truly were fortunate to have known her. A special thank you to the caregivers at Brighton Gardens who took such loving care of her and treated her with such dignity and Odyssey Hospice who helped make her transition to Heaven a peaceful one. A memorial service will be held at the First United Methodist Church, 120 N. Robinson, located next to the Murrah Bombing Memorial in downtown Oklahoma City, on Wed., April 16, 2003, at 11:00 O'Clock a.m. with internment to be at Rose Hill Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family request that donations be made in Helen's memory to Odyssey Health Care of Oklahoma City. CREMATION SOCIETY 1145 W. Britton Rd. 843-3345 Published in the Oklahoman on 4/15/2003. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to Comanche County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/comanche/comanche.html