VAIDA JONES HELLAND

HELLAND, VAIDA JONES August 25, 1918 to March 19, 2012 Vaida was born in Sacramento, CA to George and Leona Jones. She grew up there, helping in her dad's grocery store and attending secretarial school after high school. In 1938 the family moved to La Mesa, CA and Vaida majored in elementary education at San Diego State College. There, on the steps of the library, she met the love of her life, Bob Helland. They married on Valentine's Day, 1941, and worked at Consolidated Vultee Aircraft as World War II broke out. Soon they were transferred to Tucson, AZ where their first child was born. Returning to La Mesa after the war, they started a business and raised their family next door to Vaida's parents. Although Vaida worked at home, she was very active as a member and often a leader in the PTA, the Presbyterian Church, the Kiwaniannes, the thrift shop, the church choir and other service groups. In 1977, she and Bob moved to Rancho Bernardo where they supported a Tijuana orphanage and traveled extensively in the US with the Wally Byam Airstream Trailer Club and abroad as well. At both Remington Club and later at Belmont Village in Poway, she enjoyed many activities, including making new members feel at home. Her greatest legacy is the love which she shared so easily with everyone around her. She is already sorely missed. Vaida is survived by her children, Meredith Ford of Bellingham, WA (with husband Larry), Joan Helland of San Diego, and George Helland of San Diego (with wife Robin); three grandchildren; and a great-grand-daughter. A memorial will be this Saturday, March 24th, at 11 a.m. at Belmont Village, 13075 Evening Creek Dr., San Diego, CA 92128. In lieu of flowers, please direct gifts to Interfaith Community Services at 550 West Washington Ave., #B, Escondido, CA 92025, or interfaithservices.org.