Helen King-McGowan

Helen King-McGowan of West Chester Helen King-McGowan, 90, formerly of Hershey's Mill and most recently of West Chester, died on Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2013 at her home in Wellington Court. She was the widow of Samuel Arthur King, Jr. to whom she was married for 28 years: widow of James O'Bryan to whom she was married for 1 year; and widow of John L. "Jack" McGowan to whom she was married for 7 years. Born in Philadelphia, she was the daughter of the late Russell and Dorothy Clark Long. She grew up in Havertown and was a 1940 graduate of Haverford High School. She also graduated from West Chester State Teachers College in 1944 with a degree in elementary education. She taught at the Pusey Avenue School in Collingdale, the Brookline School in Havertown, elementary school in Adrian, Mich., and nursery school at St. Peter's Episcopal Church Nursery, prior to teaching first grade at the J.W. Worrall Elementary School in Broomall, where she taught first grade for over 30 years. As a dedicated educator, she was an active member of the Marple-Newtown Education Association and Pennsylvania State Education Association. In both organizations she served on several committees to work toward better education experiences for the students in Pennsylvania. As a member of St. Francis in the Fields Episcopal Church in Malvern for almost 20 years, she was very active in church life, serving as a Chalice Bearer and Lay Reader. Previously she was a 40 year member of St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Broomall, where she served two terms on the Vestry, was secretary of the Episcopal Church Women, and also served as a Lay Reader and Chalice Bearer. She was a self avowed "political junkie" and contributed countless hours to the campaigns of candidates who supported education causes. She was a member of the Newtown Square Women's Club, and the Hershey's Mill Players, and a member of a golf league at Hershey's Mill Golf Club. She is survived by two daughters, Betsy King Hansen (Jeff) of Elgin, Ill., and Barbara King Ward (Michael) of County Tyrone, Northern Ireland; and her three sisters, Mary Grassel of St. Petersburg, Fla., Dorothy Hoffman of Audubon, and Nancy Wright of West Chester; five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 15th in the Frank C. Videon Funeral Home, 2001 Sproul Road, Broomall. A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16th in St. Francis in the Fields 689 Sugartown Road Malvern, PA 19335, with a reception to follow. Memorial contributions may be sent to above named church or Compassionate Care Hospice Foundation at cchnet.net