Thelma S. Helm, 97, of Ironton, died Wednesday morning, Aug. 17, 2011, at Best Care Nursing Home in Wheelersburg where she had been a resident since 2007.

The Lewis County, W.Va., native was born May 27, 1914 to Bret and Dora Ethel Swisher Starcher.

She was a 1931 graduate of Wellston High School. On May 12, 1940 she was united in marriage to Ovid L. Helm who preceded her in death in 1982. They moved from Wellston to Ironton in 1940, and she lived there until moving to Wheelersburg in 2002. She was a member of Immanuel Methodist Church in Ironton, where she served as treasurer for 25 years.

Surviving are three daughters and sons-in-law, Linda and Ed Collar of Plano, Texas, Karen Cowan and Ben Myers of London, Ohio, and Ellen and Jerry Gammon of Ironton; two grandsons and their spouses, Scott and Gloria Pemberton, of Coppell, Texas, and J.P. and Kim Black of Largo, Fla.; two granddaughters and their spouses, Lara and Dave Vesper of Fishers, Ind., and Lynn and Tom Cannon of Hilliard; and 10 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by a sister, Mary Muncy Morrison of Salem, Va.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents and two brothers, William and Swisher Starcher.

Friends may call at 10:30 a.m. – noon Saturday at Hayes-Phillips Funeral Home with the Rev. James Cremeans officiating. Graveside services will be 12:30 p.m. Saturday at Highland Memorial Gardens in South Point. The family requests donations be made to the City Welfare Mission, 710 N. Fifth St., Ironton, OH 45638. To offer condolences to the family, please visit www.phillipsfuneralhome.net.