Helen Glass

Helen Eileen Starkey Glass (born, Feb 11, 1923 in Portland, OR) passed peacefully from this world at her home at the Williamsburg Retirement Community in Logan, Utah, on May 14, 2014. She was the daughter of Lucile Dannals (1889-1964) and Walter Jaedecke Starkey (1881-1964). She spent most of her youth living in The Dalles, Oregon, where she graduated from The Dalles High School in 1940. While there, she was an active Thespian, a bugler in the Drum and Bugle Corps, and a “Rainbow Girl.” Music was one of her passions. She learned to play the piano at an early age and continued her piano studies all the way through college. She was a top-student and is especially proud to have been awarded a full scholarship to Oregon State College (now University) where she majored in accounting, graduating in 1945. This degree served her well.  She worked as a businesswoman throughout much of her adult life. She enjoyed her many jobs as a secretary, book-keeper, elementary school librarian, and as Treasurer/Accountant for a company she jointly owned with her husband. While at Oregon State, she was a member of the Sigma Kappa Sorority. She loved her sorority sisters dearly and remained in contact with many until her declining health made that difficult. It was during her freshman year of college that she met the love of her life, Robert Gilbert Glass (July 30, 1922-Feb 25, 2010) at a big-band “mixer.” She is very grateful that she accepted that first dance, and and that he continued to woo her with dancing and ice cream throughout her whole life! The early courtship was bittersweet, however, because he enlisted in the Army Air Corps in December 1941 and spent the next several years away from school, training and then serving as a radio operator in a B-24 Liberator in the European Theater during WWII. Afterwards, he returned to Helen’s side and they married in Portland, Oregon, on August 12th, 1945. They shared many homes together, living in Corvallis, Portland, Southern California, Vancouver (WA), St. Louis, Billings, Fall City (WA), and Logan, Utah. In August 2009 they moved together into the Williamsburg Retirement Community Assisted Living Unit where they lived together until Dad’s passing in 2010. Helen so enjoyed her life at Williamsburg. She was especially grateful to all the aids who cared for her so tenderly from the time of Robert’s passing until her own. Helen was an only child and she appreciated her many high-school and college friendships as well as being incorporated into Robert’s extended family. Some of her happiest memories were shared with his brothers and sister, cousins, and their respective families. Helen is survived by three children, six grandchildren and three great-grand-children. Her children are William David “Bill” (Seyssinet, Grenoble, France), Robert Alan “Bob” (Farmington, MN), and Bonnie Kay (Logan, UT). Her grandchildren are Philippe and David (sons of Bill and Chris L’Hoir), Michelle and Ryan (children of Bob and Carol Ray), and Ian and Jonathan (sons of Bonnie and Dan Coffin). Her great grandchildren are Aiden, Devin, and Axel. She was so happy and proud to have been mom, grandma, and great grandma to such lights in the world. The entire Glass family would like to thank the residents and staff at Williamsburg as well as the staff of AFI Advanced Care/Hospice, for their care, love, and support. We are especially grateful to Gaby, Cathy, Scott, Mercedes and your amazing teams who helped make Mom’s life easier during her last months.
All are invited to a viewing at the Allen-Hall Mortuary, 34 East Center Street in Logan, on Wednesday, May 21, 2014 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM. A memorial service will be held the following Wednesday, May 28, 2014 at 11:00 AM at the Allen-Hall Mortuary for Helen and a joint burial for both Helen and Robert will follow at the Logan City Cemetery, which will be officiated by Pastor Paul Heins. Condolences may be sent to www.allenmortuaries.net .