Helen Waller

Mrs. Helen Jane Penninger Waller, 95, departed her earthly life on Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015, at Trinity Oaks in Salisbury. She was born Jan. 4, 1920, in Rowan County to the late Joel Franklin Penninger Sr. and Ada Mae Miller Penninger. She was a lifelong member of Cooleemee Presbyterian Church where she had served as Sunday School teacher, treasurer and moderator of the Presbyterian Women. Helen graduated from Woodleaf High School in 1937 as Valedictorian and received the Civitan Club Citizenship award. She was employed by Erwin Mills (later Burlington Industries) for 42 years until her retirement in 1985. Helen's hobbies were ceramics, making baskets and making sourdough rolls when health permitted. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband in 2000, Grier Cline Waller, to whom she was married Sept. 6, 1941; four brothers, William, Robert, Joel and Otis Penninger; and two sisters, Ruth Haire and Barbara Jean Bradley. Survivors include a daughter, Gale Overcash and husband Gary; a grandson, Kevin Overcash, all of Woodleaf; two great-grandchildren, Hayley and Hunter Overcash and their mother, Robin Overcash of Salisbury; a sister, Bonnie Miller of Statesville; a brother-in-law, Bill Bradley of Illinois; and a number of nieces, nephews and cousins. Arrangements: A funeral service will be conducted at 11 a.m., Wednesday, Dec. 30, at Eaton Funeral Chapel in Mocksville with Rev. John Groff officiating. Interment will follow in Rowan Memorial Park in Salisbury. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. They would like to express a special thanks to the staff of Brookdale Senior Living, which she called home, and to those who cared for her at Trinity Oaks. Memorials: May be considered for Cooleemee Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 27, Cooleemee, NC 27014. Online condolences may be made at www.eatonfuneralservice.com