Helen Ruth Cole

The world lost a true original on June 20, 2025, when Helen Ruth Claridge Cole, known to most as Granny, passed away at the age of 94 just shy of her 95th birthday.
Helen was born July 5, 1930 in Safford, Arizona. She was the first child and only daughter of Monroe and Lucille (Wilkins) Claridge. Helen attended Safford schools and graduated from Safford High School in 1948. She attended college at BYU majoring in Home Economics and minoring in Art.
During the summer before her junior year at BYU, she met Billy Van Cole who was attending and playing on the basketball team at Gila Junior College in Thatcher. They were married in her parents' home in Safford on February 9, 1951. They were sealed with their 3 children as a family in the Mesa Arizona temple on June 5, 1964.
Helen was an amazing genealogist and journal keeper. She has written, compiled, edited over 35 family history books, and has compiled books about the Klondyke area, Matthewsville, Duncan, 100 Years in Thatcher, and her last project was a book on Eastern Arizona College-The College of Many Names, which she donated to the college foundation before she passed.
Helen was an accomplished artist having painted over 650 paintings, earning ribbons and awards for her paintings. She also established the first Little Art Gallery in the Gila Balley where the local artists could display their work. She was also a talented calligrapher and seamstress.
Helen enjoyed doing cross-stich and crochet. She crocheted 67 lap robes. One for each of her grandkids and their families. Because of failing eyesight, she was unable to finish the last 7 lap robes.
Helen loved to travel. She visited the Holy Land, Ireland, Switzerland, Austria, Spain, Egypt and England where she had high tea at the historic Claridge Hotel, which one her ancestors, Ezra of Clay Ridge, established in the 14th century as a place for weary travelers to rest.
Along with traveling abroad, Helen loved to travel with Bill on their Honda Gold Wing motorcycle across the United States. They traveled over 250,000 miles visiting every state except for Rhode Island and New Jersey.
Helen and Bill served a mission in Tallahassee, Florida, serving as the senior mission couple. She and Bill also served as temple workers in the Mesa Arizona temple. Helen was preceded in death by her Husband Billy Van Cole in 2008.
She is survived by her 3 children – Jeff (Lorrie), Jennifer (Ric) and Julie. 18 grandchildren, 52 great grandchildren and 5 great-great grandchildren.
Funeral services for Helen Ruth will be conducted Tuesday morning, July 1, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., at the Thatcher Stake Center of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Bishop Paul McMaster of the Thatcher Second Ward. Concluding services will follow in the Safford Cemetery.
The family will receive friends Monday evening, June 30, 2025, from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., at the Vining Funeral Home and Tuesday morning, July 1, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. until 9:45 a.m., at the Thatcher Stake Center Relief Society Room of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to The Graham County Historical Society. To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Helen Ruth, please visit our Tree Store.