Helen Grace (Porter) McCollum

            Helen Grace Porter McCollum, 102, died on Wednesday, November 1, 2023.

            Helen was born January 15, 1921 in Hartford City to Mabel Moon and Josephus Porter. She attended the Carney Elementary School and graduated from Hartford City High School in 1938. While attending the Muncie Business College, she worked at the local office of the United Auto Workers (1939-44), where she met her future husband.

            She married Howard L. McCollum in 1944 and they lived in San Diego, CA for two years where he served in the U.S. Navy as a machinist.

            They returned to Indiana after the war and Helen was a mother and homemaker before re-entering the workforce in 1958 to serve as the Registrar at Muncie Central High School. She left that job in 1962 after the family moved to Hartford City, where Mr. McCollum was the developer of the Hillcrest subdivision, a new home development.

            Helen began work at 3M Corporation in Hartford City in 1962. She retired in 1985 with the position of Administrative Assistant to the Plant Manager.

             In addition to her professional career, Helen was an active member of Grace Methodist Church, a volunteer with the Hospital Auxiliary, and in 2014 she endowed the Howard and Helen McCollum Family Scholarship Fund through the Blackford County Community Foundation.

            She moved to Westminster Village in Muncie in 2016, where she was blessed to live independently until her death.

            Helen was a lifelong knitter and crocheter, noted for the many afghans created for her children and grandchildren, and a collection of 19 Christmas stockings each personalized with a name and date of birth. When her seventh great-grandchild was born in 2022, she had to delegate the creation of stocking twenty to younger, more nimble fingers!

            Helen was an avid golfer well into her nineties, a card player, jigsaw puzzler, crossword worker, and amazingly adept at mastering new technology such as personalized birthday and greeting cards on the computer.

            She is survived by her sons, Stephen of Greensboro, NC, and Larry (Judy) of The Villages, FL; five grandchildren, Michael (Linda) of Buellton, CA; Mary (Dan) Brezin of Vienna, VA; Scott of Broomfield, CO; Justin (Emily) of Greensboro, NC; and Ryan (Beth) of Winston-Salem, NC; seven greatgrandchildren, Miles Brezin (15), Emma Brezin (13), Garrett Brezin (8), Porter McCollum (12), Levi McCollum (9), Eleanor McCollum (4), and Mabel McCollum (1). She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.

            The family expresses heartfelt gratitude to Debbie Schink, who was an essential caregiver to Helen during her final years.

            In lieu of flowers, the family invites memorial contributions to the Howard and Helen Family Scholarship Fund, c/o Blackford County Community Foundation, 121 N. High Street, Hartford City, IN 47348.

            Arrangements are being handled by Waters Funeral Home, Hartford City.

            Services will be held at Grace Methodist Church, 312 W. Washington St., Hartford City, beginning at 2:00 p.m., on Monday, November 6th. Pastor Jeannie Winter will preside and burial will follow, at Gardens of Memory, Muncie.

            Visitation will be from 11:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. Monday, November 6th at Grace Methodist Church.  Condolences may be sent to Helen’s family at www.watersfuneralhomes.com

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