Helen Yarber

Yarber, Helen 1923-2010 Helen Louise Yarber of Dallas, beloved mother, friend, and personality on the Dallas scene, left us on April 17, 2010, at the age of 87. She expired as she lived, in the fast lane, while competing in a swimming event at the San Antonio Senior Games, of heart failure. Helen was blessed to pass in the caring support of her team-mates and fellow athletes. She left us at the peak of her game, and was vibrant, active, and radiantly beautiful to the end. Helen was born on March 13, 1923 in Pasadena, California to Richard Laurence Housley and Helen Locke Housley. She was encouraged to become a child actress in the motion picture industry at an early age, and had bit parts and was an extra in the movie serials and westerns of the time. This career was truncated by a bout of childhood polio, from which she thankfully recovered. She was subsequently raised in and around Fresno, California where she attended Fresno State University. She went on to attend the University of California at Berkeley while she began work around the Bay Area as part of the War Effort of the early forties, also finding time for a part time modeling career that she pursued sporadically thereafter, later including for Neiman Marcus Downtown. The most momentous moment of her life took place during this period when she met, in Fresno, on the corner of Fulton and Fresno Streets, a very tall, handsome sergeant in the Army Air Corps, Robert Yarber, of Dallas. Out of this union came three wonderful children and a dear stepdaughter. This love lasted all their lives. After the War they were married and Helen joined Robert in Dallas, Texas, where they were to live for the rest of their lives. Helen helped Robert who, as a rising figure in the Dallas business world, became a well known Realtor, builder, and pioneer of modern Dallas. Helen became active on the Dallas cultural scene and participated in many clubs, charities, and civic organizations. She and Bob were particularly involved in and loved the Dallas Civic Opera, and were associated with the founding of that organization. Robert Yarber Sr. died in 2001. Helen is survived by Susan Yarber of Richardson, daughter of Robert Sr. from a previous marriage, Robert Yarber Jr., of Pennsylvania and New York, Claire Lane "Laney" Yarber, of Fort Worth, James Yarber, of Dallas, Joe Flaten, son of Laney, and beloved grandson of Helen, of New York, Ulysses "Lulu" Yarber, daughter of Robert Jr. and his wife Sarah Schwartz; and Kristin and Anderson of Dallas, son and daughter of Susan, Kara, daughter of Susan, and Stephan and Dayle, son and daughter of Kara, of Plano. In recent years Helen became involved in many exciting new activities as she further blossomed into the incandescent personality her many friends of Texas and California will remember. She became a regular member of the Texas Challenge over 80's sports league, where she excelled as a basketball player and swimmer of repute, regularly appearing with her team-mates at Professional Basketball half-time shows and on local and national sporting news broadcasts. Helen basked in the limelight in center court as number 13, and at a straight and tall 5'10" she cut a glamorous and imposing figure. She couldn't have been happier. She also recently revisited her show biz roots, and had joined Laney in developing a mother-daughter Karaoke act that played clubs and senior centers in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Her showstopper was "The Lady is a Tramp," which she delivered with great glamour and pizzazz. Helen, memorable for the gowns of her own design with which she regaled those in attendance at the Dallas Opera, was the epitome of elegance. This Dallas Grand Dame, hostess of salon and soiree, was also a smart, hip, and beautiful mother and friend. She was imbued with life at its sweetest and her light shone brightly to the very end. She will be deeply missed. The memorial celebrating Helen Yarber's life will be held at 11 AM, May 6, 2010, at a graveside memorial at the Last Supper Garden at Restland Memorial Park. A memoriam gift can be made to the Cultural Renaissance Endowment Fund of the Dallas Opera, or a charity of your choice, in her loving memory.