Helen Ruth Barthel

A memorial service for Helen Ruth Barthel will be held at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 17, 2023 at K.L. Brown Funeral Home in Jacksonville with Rev. Ted Anderson officiating. The family will receive friends for one hour prior to the service on Tuesday at the funeral home. Burial will follow for family and friends at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday at Pattons Chapel Cemetery at Hoover First United Methodist Church.
Mrs. Barthel passed away on her 95th birthday at her home on Saturday.
Helen was born on January 14, 1928, the second of five daughters to Floyd and Edna Johnson in Pattons Chapel, Alabama. She was a graduate of Shades Valley High School and attended Montevallo College. Her love for her family was enormous. She was an avid Alabama Football and Atlanta Braves fan. Helen and her husband attended almost all of the University of Alabama football games until their health sidelined them. During baseball season, she was glued to the Braves games on TV. She was a member of Jacksonville First United Methodist Church since 1961.
Helen and her husband, Wally, were married on May 12, 1951 at Pattons Chapel Methodist Church and had 62+ years together until his death on March 17, 2014. She was a bookkeeper for Jacksonville City Schools for 30 years before retiring; she was an avid bowler and was a member of the Anniston Bowling Hall of Fame.
Survivors include her son, Richard W. Barthel Sr. and daughter in law and caregiver, Katherine, who was a blessing to her; grandchildren, twins Rebecca Diane and RIchard W. Barthel Jr.; great grandchildren, Destiny Turner (Dalton), Taylor Barthel, J.T. Barthel and Kendall Barthel; great grandson, Landon Turner; and sisters, Billie Hayes, Charlotte French, and Jan Haizlip.
She is preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, Herman Walter "Wally" Barthel; parents, Floyd and Edna Johnson; sister, Margie Bailey; and granddaughter in law, Heather Barthel.
The family would like to express their gratitude to Pro Health Hospice for their wonderful caregivers.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Jacksonville First Methodist Church, 109 Gayle Avenue SW, Jacksonville, AL 36265; or Hoover First Methodist Church, 1934 Patton Chapel Road, Birmingham, AL 35226.
Online condolences may be made to the family at www.klbrownfuneralhome.com.
K.L. Brown Funeral Home
322 Nisbet Street NW
Jacksonville, AL 36265
256.435.7042