Virginia (Hale) Helfrich, of Upper Arlington, Ohio, passed away on Saturday, March 11, 2023 in Columbus, OH. She was born November 9th, 1938, in Evansville, Indiana, to Hugh and Suma (Powell) Hale of Carmi, Illinois, where she spent a happy childhood and graduated from Carmi High School. She then graduated from DePauw University and became an assistant buyer for the L.S. Ayres & Co. department store in Indianapolis. She met Richard, her husband and best friend of 59 years, while they were both students at DePauw. After starting their family, Virginia, “Ginnie,” became a homemaker and continued her parents’ family farms.
Ginnie developed a love of music and ballet in her youth and volunteered for the Columbus Symphony Orchestra after she and Richard moved to Ohio in 1973. She enjoyed reading and traveling, and spent many summers throughout her childhood and retirement visiting Colorado Springs, Colorado, with her family. She was a member of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Upper Arlington, the Daughters of the American Revolution, and Alpha Omicron Pi sorority.
She will be greatly missed by her husband, Richard, son Kurt (Andrea) Helfrich, daughter Katherine (Tony) Pan, granddaughters Grace and Gretchen Helfrich, grandsons Colin and Alexander Pan, and dear family and friends near and far.
A burial service will be held at 2pm on Thursday, March 16, 2023 at Maple Ridge Cemetery in Carmi, Illinois, and a celebration of Ginnie’s life will be held at a later date in Columbus. In lieu of flowers, a memorial contribution to your favorite charity would be appreciated and can be noted with Campbell Funeral Home, 609 W. Main St., Carmi, IL 62821 who is in charge of arrangements. Condolences and memories may be left for the family at www.jordanfuneralgroup.com