Helen Ruth (Roe) VanHuss, 93, of Elizabethton, passed away Tuesday, May 10, 2016, at Ivy Hall Nursing Home after a brief illness.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Jacob and Grace Roe; her brothers, Edward, Glenn and Dave Roe; her husband of 55 years, John VanHuss, and son, Johnny VanHuss.
She is survived by her son, Walter Paul VanHuss and wife Doris of Blountville, and grandson, Jacob VanHuss and wife Rose of Johnson City. She is also survived by her son Johnny’s widow, Barbara VanHuss of Elizabethton; granddaughter, Heather Hambrick and husband Kacey, and two great-grandsons, Cole and Kip Hambrick of Johnson City.
She is also survived by an aunt and numerous nieces and nephews. One of those nieces is Sandy Guinn, who was also her neighbor, friend, caregiver, and whom she referred to as “the daughter I never had.”
Special thanks are expressed to her two caregivers and friends, Frances Lowe and Jewel Jones, and to the staff of Ivy Hall for their extraordinary care and compassion.
Helen lived a long and beautiful life that was always centered around her church (Valley Forge United Methodist Church), her family and her friends. Her health may have declined in recent years but not her love for her church and her family and her fond memories of special times that included church dinners and wonderful family reunions. Ask anyone who attended, and they will mention Helen’s “special macaroni and cheese.” She truly loved her roles as wife mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She will be missed but her outreach of love will always be treasured by family and friends.
Graveside services for Helen Ruth (Roe) VanHuss will be conducted at 1 p.m. Friday, May 13, at Happy Valley Memorial Park with the Rev. Joel Cook officiating. Interment will follow the service. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Active pallbearers, who are requested to assemble at the funeral home at 12:20 p.m. Friday, will be Kenneth Bristol, Larry Bristol, Joe Fortune, Cole Hambrick, Kacey Hambrick, Jeff Hitechew, Jacob VanHuss, Jeff VanHuss and Kent Hyder. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Valley Forge United Methodist Church, 3974 Highway 19, Elizabethton, TN 37643 or the Ronald McDonald House, 418 North State of Franklin, Johnson City, TN 37604. Family and friends will assemble at the funeral home at 12:20 p.m. Friday to go to the cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family at our website at www.memorialfcelizabethton.com.
Memorial Funeral Chapel is serving the VanHuss family.