James Willette "Bill" Helton

OIL CITY, LA - James Willette "Bill" Helton, 83, entered into his eternal slumber on January 08, 2011 after a lengthy illness with his children at his side. A memorial service will be held 2 PM Saturday, January 15, 2011 at First Baptist Church in Oil City. A visitation will be held Friday the 14th from 5-7 PM at Gorsulowsky Funeral Home in Vivian, LA. He was a most devoted husband, loving father, loyal friend, and 50 year Masonic Lodge brother. He has lay down this earthly body in anticipation of rejoining his beautiful, beloved wife, Johnnie on the other side of Heaven's door.

Bill was born at home December 31, 1927 in Colbert County, Alabama on a very cold, snowy winter's night ten minutes before midnight. Bill was a farm boy raised during the depression. He learned many of life's hard lessons early; one was work very hard for what you want and share with family and he lived this all his life. He left the plow at sixteen to join the U.S. Navy at the end of WWII. He was assigned to a destroyer as a fire controlman 2nd class in the Pacific and later also served in the Korean conflict. It was while he was in the navy he met his life-long friend of 60 years, Bob Guth and together they traveled this vast world and saw many wondrous sights.

After honorable discharge from the navy in 1955, the two friends began traveling across the U.S. and came to Oil City during its oil boom days hoping to make a few quick dollars to fund their travels. That fateful decision set the two on a new path of adventure when they met and married two school friends, settled down about five miles apart, and raised their families. They worked together first in the oil fields and later at UOP, which Bill grew to feel was his "other" family. He retired after thirty-five fun filled years and countless hours of overtime.

He was a "middle" child, the fifth of nine siblings surviving to adulthood with two older brothers and two older sisters and two younger brothers and two younger sisters. He is preceded in death by all save one younger sister, Joanne Lent (husband Jim) of Pensacola, Florida whom he treasured dearly. He leaves behind to cherish his memory a dear brother-in-law, Walter Craig (wife Gayle) he well loved and respected; five children: Denia Teeters (husband George) of Stonewall, La; James Michael Helton of Oil City, La; Jonna Kelley (husband Keith) of Oil City, La.; Ruth Hanken (husband Scott) of Springfield, Ill.; and Barron Helton of Shreveport, La.; six grandchildren, Shelli, Dallas, Matthew, Hannah, Will, and Anne Marie and two great-grandchildren: Alex and Lauren, along with numerous nieces, nephews, and family members who each Labor Day for 75 years have celebrated at the Helton Family Reunion in Mississippi.

Daddy will always be remembered for his quick wit and laughter, sparkling blue eyes, lively conversation, and storytelling. I am sure he has the angels in heaven laughing as he regales some story to them.