Kittery, ME – Helen Wallace Richards, 87, passed away on January 5, 2023.
She was born on May 27, 1935, in Atlanta, Georgia. She was the daughter of Aaron Benjamin Wallace and Eltas Griffith Wallace.
Helen graduated from Columbus High School in Columbus, Georgia, and from the University of Georgia in 1958 with a BS in Education. She went on to work in the public school system in Maryland as an elementary school teacher and librarian/media specialist. Later in life Helen returned to college and received a degree from Purdue University in construction management. She parlayed that into a second career as a Construction Project Manager with Barton Mallow. She worked on large hospital projects and sports stadiums in various locations.
After retiring in 1998, Helen lived for a while near Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. In her later years she lived with or near her son in Maine and New Hampshire and with her daughter in Washington, DC. She recently moved to Kittery Maine. Helen had a great love for music and art and pursued both in her retirement. While in Washington, she completed a World Art History Certificate Program from the Smithsonian Institutution. She loved to paint flowers and portraits of people’s pets. Helen recently rediscovered her love of playing the piano.
Helen is survived by her son Karl Axelson and his wife Nancy of Hampton Falls, NH, and daughter Ninette Dean and her husband Paul.
She has requested no service, rather that each remember her by celebrating her life. She wrote the following words to friends and family:
Lift a glass and smile. Life sometimes Is bitter but living is sweet.
Her ashes will be placed in the Atlantic Ocean to join the earth on the beautiful Maine coast. May she rejoin the stars–for there is the essence of life.
Ann Deagan-Romberg says
Karl, thank you for calling me. I’m sorry I couldn’t talk. The passing of Helen was very sad for me. I have known Helen longer than I have known my husband. Helen was my matron of honor at my wedding. She was a good friend, she kept in touch, where ever she was. We had a lot in common except for politics. I really appreciated your call. One of my fears was that I would call Helen’s phone and no one would answer or it would be disconnected. So I really appreciate your call, I am so sorry for your loss. Helen had an amazing mind, and a determined spirit. She really appreciated all you did for her in Maine. To celebrate Helen’s life, we went out for Greek food and talked about her and many of our “adventures”. She was an amazing woman and will be sorely missed by those who knew her.
Bonnie Redmond says
A favorite memory from my childhood was going with this family to Deep Creek. Carnival rides, water skiing, an A frame cabin. Helen was so warm and welcoming, along with providing us a fun experience. Rest in peace. Condolences to the entire family. 🙏🙏🙏
Vivian Wallace says
I was thinking about Helen today and missing our phone conversations. I hadn’t seen her obituary yet and stumbled on it looking up the date Helen’s parents were married. I loved Aunt Helen a lot but was really just getting to know her through our phone conversations. We talked about what we were each reading, a little about politics and how the country and the education system was going to pot. We laughed a lot and I always asked about her art. I love that she had acquired a keyboard and was playing for me on our last call. I have been and will continue to miss her, her sister, Sara and her brother(my dad) for the rest of my life.