Helen C. Billingslea

Helen Cooke Billingslea, 87, of New Oxford, Pa., formerly of Westminster, died Sunday, May 13, 2012, at the Cross Keys Village in New Oxford.

Born July 10, 1924, in Baltimore City, she was the daughter of the late Rev. Raymond W. and Ethel Jervis Cooke. Her husband, Robert K. Billingslea, Jr. died in 2006.

She attended Western High School in Baltimore and graduated from Beall High School in Frostburg in 1943. 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.

She was a lifelong educator and taught four years at Sykesville, Randallstown and Reisterstown Elementary Schools, and for 23 years at Uniontown, East End, Robert Moton and Hampstead Elementary Schools.

She loved children and served as a Cub Scout den mother and taught Sunday school for many years. She volunteered at the Carroll County Historical Society and enjoyed traveling.

She was a member and past officer of Delta Kappa Gamma, Omicron Chapter. She was a member of Westminster United Methodist Church and later joined Grace United Methodist Church in 1990, when she moved to Hanover, Pa.

She is survived by son and daughter-in-law Michael Billingslea and Jacqueline Johnson, of New Market; daughter and son-in-law Kathie and Bruce Smith of Ellicott City; son Jeffrey Billingslea, of Perry Hall; 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; 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 11 a.m. Saturday May 26 at Pritts Funeral Home & Chapel, 412 Washington Road, Westminster, with the Rev. Richard Smith and 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 from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday May 24 at the funeral home and from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday, May 26.

Memorial contributions may be offered to Grace United Methodist Church, 55 Albright Drive, Hanover, PA 17331.

Online condolences may be offered at www.prittsfuneralhome.com.

Sign this guest book online at www.carrollcountytimes.com.