Helen Perkins Rea

July 8, 1917 - April 29, 2009
SOUTH BEND - Helen M. Perkins Rea, 91, re-siding in South Bend, passed away at 7:00 a.m. Wednesday, April 29, 2009 at Memorial Hospital. She was born July 8, 1917 in Columbia City, IN to Walter & Orpha (Ram-sey) Koester where they lived for three years be-fore moving to Grass Creek, IN. In 1926 the family moved to South Bend. She graduated from James Whitcomb Riley High School in 1935, and later graduated from South Bend College of Commerce. On March 16, 1940 in South Bend as Helen Koester she married George W. Perkins who passed away on September 19, 1974. She was also preceded by her sister, Evelyn Koester. Then on June 19, 1976 in Mishawaka, she married Robert Virgil Rea who survives. Also surviving is her daughter, Marsha (John) Marshall of Mishawaka, three sons, James W. (Priscilla) Perkins of Charlotte, NC, Kenneth H. Perkins of New Port Richey, FL, and Daniel (Jackie) Perkins of North Fort Myers, FL. Twelve grandchildren, twenty great-grandchildren, her brother, Walter (Merle) Koester of Asheville, NC, and very special nieces, nephews, and cousins, whom she loved dearly survive her as well. She greatly enjoyed her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Helen worked for the School City of South Bend, Bendix Home Appliance, and then retired to raise her family. After 23 years as a "stay at home" Mom, she returned to the working world as Secretary to the Director of Personnel at South Bend Lathe and then at A.M. General as Secretary to the manager of the Parts Dept. until her retirement in 1980. After her marriage to Robert Virgil Rea, they spent their winters in Ft. Myers, Florida for twenty years, where she learned to bowl, play golf, and swim. Helen was a member of Trinity Evangelical Free Church in South Bend. During their winters at Ft. Myers, FL, she attended the Community Reformed Church and later the Fort Myers Evangelical Free Church. Services celebrating the life of Helen Perkins Rea will be at 2:00 p.m. Sun-day, May 3, at Palmer Funeral Home-Guisinger Chapel, 3718 South Michigan Street, South Bend. Rev. Craig Clapper and Rev. Steve Meck will officiate. Graveside services and burial will follow at Southlawn Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 3:00 - 6:00 p.m. today, May 2, at the funeral home, and one hour prior to services Sunday. Expressions of sympathy in memory of Helen Perkins Rea may be offered to Trinity Evangelical Free Church, 61770 Miami Road, South Bend, IN 46614, or to The Center for Hospice & Palliative Care, Inc., 111 Sunnybrook Court, South Bend, IN 46637.