Helen Lorraine Gilliam
June 10, 1929 ~ April 13, 2018
Born in: Franklin, Pennsylvania
MEADVILLE - Helen Lorraine Gilliam, 88, passed away, Friday, April 13, 2018 at Meadville Medical Center. She was born on June 10, 1929 in Franklin, PA. She was the daughter of the late Lee W. and Edna E. Yoder Fry.
Helen enjoyed playing games, crocheting, knitting, quilting and other crafts.
In addition to her parents, Helen was preceded in passing by her first husband, V. Meade Carpenter in 1989, second husband S. Eugene Gilliam in 2015. brothers, Willis D. Fry, Richard K. Fry and James E. Fry; sisters, Virginia H. Roberts and Leora J. Enis.
Survivors include, three daughters, Mary Dunn and her husband Joseph of Ohio; Marlene Spurgen and her husband Kim of South Carolina and Nancy Newman and her husband Michael of Texas; her son, Gary V. Carpenter and his wife Linda of Townville; six grandchildren and thirteen great grandchildren; her sister, Pat Weaver and brothers Robert Fry and his wife Susie and Thomas E. Fry and sister-in-law Linda Fry.
Friends and family are invited to call the Ryan M. Warren Funeral Home and Cremation Services Inc., 33353 N. Main Street, Townville, PA 16360 on Tuesday, April 17, 2018 at 2:00 P.M. until the time of the service at 3:00 P.M. with Pastor Phillip Torre, officiating.
Burial will take place at Kingsley Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Wesbury Foundation, 31 N. Park Avenue, Meadville, PA 16335 or the Lewis United Methodist Church, 1105 First Street, Newberry, SC 29108.
Please take a moment to share a memory or condolence with the family on Helen's Book of Memories at www.warrenfh.com
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Condolences to the family. Larry Hummel
I am very sorry for your loss of your loved one and offer my heartfelt sympathy. May you find peace from your precious memories of your time together and strength from God’s loving promise found at Isaiah 41:10.
As my grandmother despite not growing up around her, for a short time we did live near and I take great solice in the fact she was there for s struggling 14 year old missing her home. She was my confidante and would pop in to check and make sure her latch key grand daughters were ok and even sneak me money in case our single mother, struggling to make it small paycheck to paycheck. I hope she knew my visit a year later, unannounced was to let her know I was sorry I didn’t get to say goodbye but that we were okay and her efforts didn’t go unnoticed or unapprrciated. She will be dearly missed. My father’s mother was her close friend and only 6 months older than she is grief stricken crying every time she thinks of grandma. I pray everyone keep our family in prayer especially those half a world away who won’t be able to make the service. And especially my cousins Yvonne Hickey and Melissa Sasser who relied on her most as teenagers do on their grand mother for advise and comfort. They lived close and I know confided in her regularly and cherished their relationship with her as I did the short time we were close. This has taken most of the grandchildren by surprise and didn’t realize she was even ill. Please pray for the peace that passes understanding and help us celebrate the life she lived and take comfort she is in a better place and reunited with her husband and father of her children. We pray she knew we loved and appreciated all she was. Even if she over spoiled the dog by giving it a place setting at the table she gave us pubescent girls hope we would develop with some of the character she was and that she not known we knew that her wearing half of dinner on her chest being a mere 5ft tall bending over the table meant her chest went into more dishes than her fork was for our benefit to get that giggle out of her girl’s she so longed to hear. She always had antics to lighten the mood when she felt we were down. We must have needed that giggle more than we knew because she sure ruined alot of sweaters. This is how I choose to remember her. Love you spit fire grandma. You will be missed here on earth but we find our comfort knowing you are where you have longed to be, with our Lord and reunited with the love of your life. Rest in peace. Xoxoxoxo
3 of 6—- Andy
Helen was a dear friend, who I met through the Newberry County Humane Society, Newberry, SC many years ago. We instantly “hit it off,” and always found something to chat about, especially if we met at WalMart. She said we were “related,” since her middle name is Lorraine and my first name is Lorraine (same spelling). I tried to keep her up-to-date with the Humane Society news and Birthday cards, after she moved. God has gained an Angel. My sincere condolences to the family.
Aunt Lorraine is someone that I will cherish and always remember. She was always interested in my brothers and I, and ALWAYS made Danielle feel welcomed to family. When my brothers and I were small, my dad would tell us stories about his brothers and sisters when they were small and living on the farm. He would always smile and laugh when talking about aunt Lorraine. We are so terribly sorry for your loss. We will always keep her close, and are humbled and grateful to have had her in our lives.
It’s hard to believe it has been a year since my dear friend, Helen, has passed. I still remember the happy chats we had and meeting at WalMart and giggling about having the same name, Lorraine. Sweet memories, always.