“It isn’t our position, but our disposition which makes us happy.” These words from an unknown, wise author sound good to many, put so few people practice those words. Stormy days bring us down. Unfulfilled promises disappoint us. Death causes us to hurt and grieve. But for one particular woman, she never let her circumstances or her position in life bring her down. She found a way to look for the rainbow or the budding flowers during a storm. Unfulfilled promises came with the possibility to help those who made the promise. Death caused her to look forward to the day of reuniting with loved ones in Heaven. Mrs. Helen Lily King didn’t let life impact her happiness. She let her happiness impact not only her life, but the life of so many others.

From the beginning on Wednesday, October 20, 1926 in Boston, Massachusetts, Helen Lily King’s life became marked with happiness and joy. Her parents, Fred and Martha Stabin, were overjoyed at little Helen’s coming and adding to their small family. She had a happy little childhood in Boston full of lively summers and white winters. As she grew up into a fine young lady, Helen’s sweet and charming demeanor bloomed and blossomed. Eventually she fell in love and married an Army soldier; consequently, she married the Army life. Shortly after they were married, Helen and her new husband moved overseas to Germany and later to Okinawa. Although life was a little trying, Helen maintained her positive attitude and found joy in her situation. She was getting to see the world and had the chance to experience different cultures, arts, foods, and landscape that she had never witnessed before in Boston. No matter how hard life became, she seemed to follow the words of another unknown author that “anywhere is paradise; it’s up to you.” Eventually, Helen moved back to the United States and began to live in El Paso, Texas where she lived for 12 years. When it came time to move again, Helen settled down in Dallas, Texas where she decided to stay for the rest of her life. In her years living in Dallas, Helen King worked for 20 years at Rockwell International where she specialized in the Administrative department. Everywhere she went, whether it was Boston, Germany, Okinawa, El Paso, or Dallas, she lived and thrived within her positive spirit and her warm personality.

Throughout life, Helen had many pleasures and enjoyed many things that life had to offer. She cherished life and made life something special. In the words of Walt Whitman, Helen did not “ask for good-fortune, [she herself was] good fortune.” As in her Army days, Helen loved to travel and see new places. She enjoyed venturing and taking vacations to Alaska with its wild beauty; the landscape and nature all around her took her breath away. As a hobby, Helen created beautiful quilts, afghans, and clothes for herself, her family, and her friends. She excelled at sewing and crocheting, and her seamstress techniques could not be matched. Helen’s daughter recalls how all her clothes growing up were handmade by her mother; each article of clothing was unique and beautiful. Each afghan she crocheted was done so with love and with skill. Everyone seemed to receive an afghan from Helen King, especially mothers with newborn little babies. When Helen wasn’t traveling or creating a beautiful fabric masterpiece, she most likely was participating in an event with her social sorority, Beta Sigma Phi. Helen became very involved with Beta Sigma Phi and held various offices and positions within the organization that dwelt in social, cultural, and service causes. Helen devoted much of her life to Beta Sigma Phi and even received her 50-year pin as an honor to her time spent with the sorority. However, among all the pleasant aspects her life had to offer, Helen King truly treasured the company of friends and family most above all.

Helen had always been described as a people person; she just loved being around and with people. Strangers and family members alike seemed to flock to Helen with her positive attitude and her jovial spirit. She always looked at the glass half full no matter what major struggles stood in her way. When trying times did come her way, she remained optimistic so that people could never tell if there was anything wrong in the first place. She had a beautiful laugh that she used frequently in her merry conversations and teasing. Friends and family adored her laughter and drew ever nearer to it especially in their own struggles. Helen’s positive outlook upon things seemed to sooth and save those who were struggling with their own problems. She was a life preserver in storms of doubt, hardship, and misery. Helen’s joy and happiness radiated no matter where she stayed. At the nursing home, nurses and faculty members loved Helen as if she was their own grandmother. Helen would talk with them and joke with them to lift their spirits during all periods of the day. It was no surprise that nurses would even take their breaks in Helen’s room just to have a good laugh and to smile. Helen loved and impacted so many people within her life, but her family was at the center of her huge, golden heart.

Being a mother and grandmother gave Helen so much joy and happiness in life. When she was around her family, Helen felt whole and complete. Helen was the proud mother to her five children, Helen, Wanda, Ruth, Bron, and Robert, who became her world the moment they were born. When she thought life couldn’t get better, she became the grandmother to her beloved grandsons, Devin and Marc. She loved being a grandmother, and she stayed very active with her two grandsons. Aside from all her titles in Beta Sigma Phi, Helen loved the title of “Gongon” the best. Her grandson Marc bestowed the name upon her and she kept it with pride; the name has stuck with her ever since. Unfortunately for Helen, her family faced many tragedies. Helen lost Bron when he was only 16 years old. Through her grief and sorrow, Helen still rallied her family to remain positive and hopeful for the future. She also had to face the loss of her other son, Robert. Both losses, even though it was years apart, were terribly hard for Helen, but her outlook still remained optimistic with joy that she had their love and memories to hold with her until she could meet them again. However, when Helen lost her grandson Marc, she truly displayed the quote from C.C. Scott that, “The human spirit is stronger than anything that can happen to it.” Helen was terribly close to Marc, and his death stung her in the heart like nothing else before. Instead of becoming depressed and negative about losing him, she decided to tell stories and pleasant memories about Marc. She loved to tell the story about Marc playing his bass clarinet and performing at Carnegie Hall in New York. The experience gave her so much joy and pride in Marc. Talking about him and praising his life gave her joy through her grief. Helen loved all of her family with all of her heart. Each and every one of them held a special place in her life and spirit. Helen’s family meant everything to her.
To the sorrow of her family and friends, Helen Lily King passed away on Sunday, November 20, 2016 in Plano, Texas. She had just celebrated her 90th birthday a month earlier, and each of her ninety years came with joy and happiness. Helen’s family will hold her memory and her optimistic, glass-half-full spirit with them forever more.

Mrs. Helen Lily King is survived by her children, Helen King Rueter and her husband, Jim, Wanda King, and Ruth Franks, and her grandson, Devin Franks. Mrs. Helen King is preceded in death by her parents, Fred and Martha Stabin; her sister, Alice Stabin; her sons, Bron T. King, Jr. and Robert C. King; and her grandson Marc Nauman.

A graveside service will be conducted in honor of Mrs. Helen King and her life upon earth. The graveside service will be held on Tuesday, November 29, 2016 at 2:00 PM in Restland Memorial Park.

As Norman Vincent Peale wrote, “Change your thoughts and you change your world.” Helen Lily King lived happily through her positive outlook on life. She not only created a beautiful, joyful world for herself, but also for her family and friends. Helen King changed the world for the better in us all.

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