Helen Billingslea

NEW OXFORD Helen Cooke Billingslea, 87, formerly of Westminster, Md., died Sunday, May 13, 2012, at the Cross Keys Village in New Oxford. Her husband, Robert K. Billingslea, Jr., prede-ceased her in 2006. Born July 10, 1924, in Baltimore City, Md., she was the daughter of the late Rev. Raymond W. and Ethel Jervis Cooke. She attended Western High School in Baltimore and then graduated from Beall High School in Frostburg, Md., in 1943. In 1946, she graduated from Frostburg State College with a degree in elementary education. She later earned a master's equivalency in education from Western Maryland College (now McDaniel College). She was a lifelong educator and taught four years at Sykesville, Randallstown, and Reisterstown Elementary Schools in Baltimore County, and 23 more years at Uniontown, East End, Robert Moton, and Hampstead Elementary Schools in Carroll County. She loved children and served as a Cub Scout den mother and taught Sunday School for many years. In retirement, she volunteered at the Carroll County Historical Society in Westminster and enjoyed traveling. She was a member and past officer of Delta Kappa Gamma, Omicron Chapter. For many years she was a member of Westminster United Methodist Church and later joined Grace United Methodist Church in 1990 when she moved to Hanover. She is survived by son and daughter-in-law, Michael Billingslea and Jacqueline Johnson of New Market, Md.; daughter and son-in-law, Kathie and Bruce Smith of Ellicott City, Md.; son, Jeffrey Billingslea of Perry Hall, Md.; brother, Rev. Dr. R. Jervis Cooke of Seaford, Del.; sister-in-law, Ella Billingslea of Washington, D.C.; sister-in-law, Lillian Billingslea of Baltimore; grandchildren and spouses, David and Shawna Billingslea of Aurora, Colo., Matt and Christina Billingslea of Nashville, Tenn., Kevin and Mi-Hyun Smith of Ellicott City, Ryan and Beth Smith of Bedford Hills, N.Y., Emily and Tony Battista of San Mateo, Calif., Chani and Jesse Kendall of Jarrettsville, Md., and Alexandra Anderson of Washington, D.C.; and nine great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by daughter-in-law, Beverly Billingslea. Funeral services will be held at the Pritts Funeral Home and Chapel, 412 Washington Road, Westminster, Md., at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 26, with the Rev. Richard Smith and the the Rev. Dr. Bruce Cooke officiating. Interment will be in Westminster Cemetery. A luncheon will follow from noon to 3 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall at Westminster United Methodist Church. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 7 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, May 24, and prior to the funeral from 10 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 26. Memorial contributions may be made to Grace United Methodist Church, 55 Albright Drive, Hanover, PA 17331. Online condolences may be sent to www.prittsfuneralhome.com