Helen Tate

Helen Tate, age 84 of Walnut Grove, was called home to be with her Lord and Savior on Tuesday, September 17, 2024 at her home surrounded by family. Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, September 23, 2024 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Walnut Grove. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church on Monday. Interment will be in the Walnut Grove Cemetery. Stephens Funeral Service – Walnut Grove Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Helen Tate was born on October 6, 1939, to Fred Ancel and Cornelia (Bailey) Cole in Frost, Ohio. She was the youngest of seven children. Helen attended school in Coolville, Ohio, and graduated from Carthage Troy in 1957 as valedictorian of her class. Upon completion of high school, Helen was employed at an auto insurance company for two years before moving to Cleveland where she worked in an office that handled car loans.

Helen met Allan Jay Tate and they were united in marriage on February 15, 1960 in the home in which she was raised in Coolville. She was baptized at Trinity Lutheran Church shortly after their marriage. To this marriage three children were born: Mark, June and Lisa. The couple made their home in Walnut Grove where Allan owned and operated a trucking business with his father and brother.

From 1975-1985, Helen worked at the school as a playground supervisor. All the students loved her kind and compassionate personality. She then went to work at Woolworth in Marshall and the Revere Home for a short time. In 1999 she began working at the Wilder Museum where she was employed for 10 years. She loved the time she spent there with all the wonderful staff and really enjoyed her visits with hundreds of people from all around the world. Helen was very active in serving on several different committees while a member at Trinity Lutheran Church. She served as president of the Ladies Aid, was a member of the church council, taught Sunday school for many years, served on the altar guild and attended regular bible study classes. 

Helen was a wonderful wife and homemaker providing the most fabulous homemade meals and delicious baked goodies for her family. She enjoyed gardening and canning, feeding her birds, taking great care of her flower gardens, reading, puzzles and her favorite past time was listening to country music, especially Luke Bryan. She loved all of his music and his wonderful personality. Helen also loved spending time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren; they were her world. Helen was such a beautiful, kind and gentle soul and will be deeply missed by everyone who knew her.

Helen is survived by her two daughters: June (Scott) Hoffman & Lisa (Dave) Hoffman both of Walnut Grove; four grandchildren: Jen (Mike), Kristie (Garett), Abby (Clay) & Josh; seven great-grandchildren: Ella, Carson, Kaiya, Ava, Kennedy, Bronson & Kollyns; sister Catherine Overby of Ravenna, OH; and several nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. She is preceded in death by her parents Fred and Cornelia, husband Allan, son Mark, siblings: Pauline, Roy, Fred Jr., Kermit, Catherine & Edith.