WAYSIDE, WV --- Helen Mae Allen Houchins, 94, of Wayside, WV, passed away peacefully on July 11, 2020.

Helen was born in Wayside, WV, on March 17, 1926, to Ashby and Maude Gwinn Allen.  She grew up as the middle child of eleven.  She is preceded in death by her husband of 70 years, Rufus Houchins; her parents; four sisters:  Frances Vass, Sadie Peck, Hilda Arndt, and Louise Sherwood; and three brothers:  Ernest Allen, Jesse "Buster" Allen, and James Allen.  She is survived by her daughter Patricia Houchins Jones and husband Marshall Jones; grandson Chris Jones and wife Tina Jones; granddaughter Leah Jones and partner Hunter Kirby; and the delight of Helen's life, her five great-granddaughters: Taylor Keeling, Lori Jones, Ashton Jones, Kiersten Keeling, and Madison Keeling.  She is also survived by three sisters: Rachel Blalock, Jean (Eugene) Rigsby, and Betty (Dan) Woodland, as well as more than 150 nieces/nephews and great-, great-great-, and great-great-great- nieces/nephews, most of whom carry personal memories of that time their Aunt Helen took them chinquapin picking or taught them to drive a stick shift or to pitch horseshoes or to make biscuits.

Helen lived a beautifully simple life.  At about age 10, using church-taught Sacred Harp shape notes, she taught herself to play her grandmother's pump organ, after discovering an unlocked window to access the locked parlor where the organ was kept. She used this self-taught skill for decades to play piano at church each Sunday.  In 1944, she graduated from Greenville High School, worked as a WWII "Rosie the Riveter" at Patterson Airfield, Dayton, Ohio, and married Rufus, the love of her life, while he was serving in the US Army. After the war, they returned to live in Wayside, where she worked for many years as postmaster, owner/operator of the Wayside Store, and correctional officer at the Alderson Federal Women's Prison. Her life was devoted to supporting her family and community. She gardened, cooked, canned, and created countless hand-sewn quilts, all while singing hymns.  Her fried apple pies and sourdough bread were highlights at the annual Wayside Pie Supper.  Her lifelong favorite pastime was playing Setback with family, friends, and even strangers if they knew the Wayside rules.

In the six years since Rufus went to Heaven ahead of her, Helen has felt his absence deeply and constantly. Those who love her know that she is with him now.  For her family, she was a solid example of honesty, unfailing love and devotion, dedication to Jesus, and perfection as a mother and grandma.

The family is deeply grateful to the twenty-four Monroe County women who enabled Helen to spend her final eight months in her own home, lovingly caring for her around the clock.  We also thank Greenbrier Valley Hospice, Heartland Hospice in Raleigh, NC, and Vintage Gardens Family Care Home also in Raleigh, for their support.

A brief visitation, with universal masking precautions in place, will be held at 10:00AM Thursday, July 16, 2020, at the Wayside United Methodist Church in Wayside, WV.  A graveside service officiated by the Reverend Jim Wentz will follow at 11:00am, with extra seating and with universal masking precautions in place.  Helen's pallbearers will be Doug Vass, Chris Jones, Hunter Kirby, Glen Lively, Wade Lively, Chuck Nicklaus, Jim Peck, and Ed Vass. Those wishing to send the Houchins Family online condolences or sign the online guestbook may do so by visiting www.groves-mann.com Arrangements by Groves-Mann Funeral Home in Union, WV.