Helen Forsythe

Helen Marian Forsythe, of Wichita, Kansas, passed away peacefully on February 13, 2013, three months short of her 100th birthday. Helen was born May 8, 1913, to Charles W. and Trella C. Thompson in Garnett, KS. She had three sisters, Margaret, Donna and Claire, and one brother, Charles (Bud), all of whom are deceased. Helen graduated from Westphalia High School (KS) in 1931, passed the Kansas State Teacher's Examination, and began her teaching career at the age of eighteen. She went on to earn her Bachelors' and Master's degrees at Wichita State. Her teaching career spanned 47 years, with a focus on teaching 2nd-graders how to read. She retired from the Wichita Public School system in 1978. Helen married the great love of her life, L. Dale Forsythe, in 1936. Dale and Helen raised three sons, Lawrence (Larry) D. Forsythe, Jr. (Linda), Neodesha, KS, Charles (Chuck) T. Forsythe, Wichita, KS, and Douglas (Doug) D. Forsythe (Becky), Fort Worth, TX. Helen was a 75-year member of the Order of Eastern Star and a lifetime member of the National Education Association. In her retirement, Helen loved to read, to dance, to play golf, and was a master of Trivial Pursuit. She was preceded in death by her husband, their infant daughter, her parents and her siblings. Helen is survived by 3 children, 6 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held Saturday, February 23, 2013, at 1:30 pm in Garnett, KS, at the Feuerborn Family Funeral Service Chapel, with graveside services following at the Garnett City Cemetery.