Carl Helwig Ph.D.

Carl Helwig, Ph.D., 93, of Province Place of DePaul, Norfolk, VA, passed away Friday, January 14, 2011, at Bon Secours DePaul Medical Center. He was born October 31, 1917, in Marosujvar, Romania to late Carl and Elizabeth (Boer) Helwig. Dr. Helwig immigrated to the United States in 1923 with his parents and his late sister Elizabeth Jessica Helwig Schindler. He grew up in Cleveland, Ohio and graduated from John Adams High School in 1935. Dr. Helwig joined the U.S. Army in 1936 as an enlisted soldier and retired in 1956 with the rank of major. He was a field artillery officer and served in the 33rd Infantry Division with front-line combat experience in 1945 on Luzon in the Philippines Campaign. He later served with the 1st Cavalry Division during the occupation of Japan, and as an intelligence officer in post – World War II Austria. His final assignment prior to retirement was with the Joint U.S. Military Assistance Group – Thailand. Following retirement he used the GI Bill to pursue his higher education. He entered college as a 38-year-old freshman and went on to earn a bachelor's and two master's degrees from Case Western Reserve University in 1960, 1961 and 1967. He earned a doctor of education degree in administration and supervision from the University of Akron in 1969. From 1960-66, Dr. Helwig taught in public schools in Ohio and at North Carolina Wesleyan College, Baldwin-Wallace College and Lorain County (Ohio) Community College. He joined the Old Dominion University faculty in 1968 as an assistant professor of education. He was promoted to the rank of associate professor of educational foundations and special programs in 1971, and retired in 1979 as associate professor emeritus of education. Following his retirement from ODU, Dr. Helwig taught part-time at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and St. Leo College. He also enjoyed gardening, reading and travel, as well as raising tropical fish and growing African violets and orchids. He returned to his studies in 1990 to pursue a third master's degree – in humanities – from Old Dominion, which he received in 1995. He is survived by his nieces, Christina Knisely and her husband Robert of Bay Village, Ohio, and Judith Conn and her husband Gary, of Rockford, Michigan, along with several life-long friends and neighbors. Dr. Helwig last resided at Province Place of DePaul. He was grateful to the caring nursing staff, other staff members and residents there who befriended him over the last three years. He was also grateful to Dr. William Hovland, Sister Margaret (Peggy) Mathewson, and the nursing staff of DePaul Medical Center for their professional and compassionate care. Dr. Helwig was a firm believer in education and, as a continuing legacy, left his entire estate to establish the Carl Helwig Undergraduate Humanities Scholarship at Old Dominion University. Expressions of sympathy may be made in his memory to the Helwig Scholarship Fund at Old Dominion University, 4417 Monarch Way, 4th Floor, Norfolk, VA 23529. Dr. Helwig will be interred at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors on March 15, 2011. Arrangements by Hollomon-Brown, Bayside Chapel, Virginia Beach, VA.