Obituary of Helen Dunkle

Helen Huber (Ross) Dunkle died peacefully on June 5, 2013 at Saratoga Hospital with her family at her side. Born December 23, 1919 in State College, PA, she was one of ten children of Lavina Faye (Weber) Ross and Charles Musser Ross. Their family farm was located in Linden Hall, PA. Helen graduated from Harris Township High School in 1937, attended two years pre-med at Penn State and graduated from Temple University School of Nursing. She served in the Cadet Nurse Corps during World War II. In 1943 she married Henry Ellsworth Dunkle who was serving in the Army Air Force. After the war they settled in Irvington, NY where they began raising their daughters. Transfers to Oxford, PA and then to Auburn, NY followed. Helen pursued her nursing career at Auburn Memorial Hospital, and volunteered with medical teams to bring services to migrant workers in the Finger Lakes region. After she retired from nursing she began a new career as a tax preparer. Her lifelong love of history led to her prodigious research of family genealogy. She published many volumes of her genealogical records. Helen's hobbies included sewing, quilting, and china painting. She was a member of Porcelain Artists. Following the death of her husband in 1980, she moved to Clifton Park, NY. She spent winters in Sarasota, FL. Her stories about her family and early 20th century rural life were well known for their unique style and illustrations. In her later life she moved to Coburg Village Retirement Community in Rexford, NY, where she was an active member of the Writer's Group. Her histories were featured in World War II presentations by local story teller Kate Dudding. Helen is survived by her five daughters Sandra (Nicholas) McGarraugh of Delanson, NY; Shirley Buel of Nassau, NY; Susan (Alan) Barnett of Clifton Park, NY; Sonja Rowan of Cleveland, OH; and Pamela Dunkle (Steve Hilton) of Westborough, MA; seven grandchildren, and six great grandchildren; her sisters Sara Nix of Sarasota, FL; Priscilla Dean of Morrow, GA; Ruth Kelley of Vancouver, WA; her sisters-in-law Dorothy Dunkle of Mill Hall, PA; Jane Jones of Lock Haven, PA, Sara (Charles) Heckman of Hublersburg, PA; and many nieces and nephews throughout the country. Helen was predeceased by her husband Henry Dunkle; her sister Jane Johnson; and her brothers Robert Ross, Fred Ross, William Ross, and Thomas Ross. The family would like to acknowledge and thank the excellent and tender care Helen received from the staff of Saratoga Hospital and Hospice. Calling hours will be at Koch Funeral Home, State College, PA on Monday, June 10 at 10:00am. Funeral services will follow at 11:00, with internment at Hublersburg, PA cemetery. Online condolences and signing of the guest book are welcome at www.kochfuneralhome.com.