Helen Scruggs

Helen Owins Scruggs NORFOLK - Helen Blanche Owins Scruggs, 80, a longtime resident of Newport News, ascended to a more bountiful existence Sept. 19, 2008, in Maryview Nursing Center, Portsmouth. She was a loving mother and wife, and a kind friend to all who passed her way. Mrs. Scruggs was born Feb. 10, 1928, in Gastonia, N.C., to Charles and Nell Owins. Raised in Norfolk, she was a 1946 graduate of Norview High School. In 1949, she earned a degree in biology from Longwood College. She married Andrew Anthony Scruggs of Richmond July 15, 1949. They lived in Richmond for many years, where they had four children. The family also lived in Charlotte, N.C., before settling in Newport News in 1972. For the past three years, she resided at the Hidenwood Retirement Community, where she had many friends. In the 1980s and early 1990s, she worked for many years at Steven's Bakery, and later, at Images Uniforms, where she enjoyed her coworkers and customers. For more than two decades, she served as an election official in the Nelson voter precinct. She was preceded in death by her husband; a brother, Charles Owins; and a son-in-law, Tommy Libbus, in addition to her parents. She is survived by a son, Michael A. Scruggs (Carol) of Vienna and daughters Karen Libbus (Tommy) of Gloucester Point, Louise Cummings (Dean) of Virginia Beach and Susanne Rogowski (Jim) of Suffolk. She is also survived by her loving sister, Rebecca Owins of Durham, N.C. Also mourning her passing are grandchildren, Andrew and Bryant Scruggs and Kelly Jo, Kerry, Connie and Daniel Cummings. For many years until her passing, Mrs. Scruggs shared a dear friendship with Bobbie West of Guinea and York County. A funeral to celebrate the loving and kindly life of Mrs. Scruggs will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at Hollomon-Brown Funeral Home, 8464 Tidewater Drive, Norfolk, followed by internment in Elmwood Cemetery, also in Norfolk. Friends and family are also invited to a visitation to be held from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. today at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Parkinson's Disease Foundation, www.pdf.org. Condolences can be made at www.hollomon-brown.com. Being pure in heart, Mrs. Scruggs now enters a heavenly realm. Throughout her life, she lived to care for her children and others. She nursed her husband through cancer, her mother through old age and cared for an infant who needed a transitional home between the hospital and the adoptive parents. Her home was a refuge for lost cats and dogs. She was generous to others, but thrifty with herself. "Our Mom is a never-ending song in our hearts of comfort, happiness and being. We may sometimes forget the words, but we will always remember her tune..."