Helen Louise (Spicer) Gibson

HELEN LOUISE SPICER GIBSON, age 88, of Troy, passed away Tuesday, January 30, 2018 at home after a 40 plus year pulmonary battle.  She was born October 24, 1929 in Hamilton, OH to the late Clarence and Ruby Spicer.  Helen was a 1948 graduate of Hanover High School in Butler County.  She attended Lee College where she met her future husband, Douglas B. Gibson.  They were married on March 24, 1951 in Nashville, Tennessee and raised their family in Butler and Miami counties of Ohio.  They were married for 45 years and he preceded her in death in 1996.

The devoted eldest sibling of seven: Connie (John) Hensley of Hamilton, OH; Rev. Clarence Spicer Jr. (Annette) of Albany, GA; twins Carl (JoAnn) and Carlos (Gail) Spicer of Liberty Twp. OH and Sarasota, Fla.; James “Jimmy” Spicer; and Dolly (George) Barlow of Hamilton, OH. Helen was also preceded in death by her brothers, Jimmy and Clarence Jr. and her dear brother-in-law, John.

The mother of two children: son, Mark and his wife Denise Gibson, and daughter, Cindy Gibson, both of Troy, OH, she exemplified the word “matriarch” and was the foundation of her family.  She saw as her greatest blessing her two granddaughters: Amanda Gibson Aldridge and her husband Zachary Aldridge of Columbus, OH; Rachel Gibson Ritchey and her husband Timothy Ritchey of West Chester, OH.  The jewels in Helen’s crown were her great-grandchildren, Gavin and Shaelyn Ritchey. Helen was loved and admired by many nieces and nephews, near and far.

Helen was known for her strong work ethic.  She was an accountant for 25+ years at Champion Papers where she ran profit figures for 7 plants.  When she left due to her health, it took 3 men to fill her position. After her lung surgery in 1969, Helen fought hard to regain her strength and health so as to go on and establish two family businesses, The Red Barn Antiques and Western Shop, as well as A Country Vacation Boarding Kennel that still exists today.  Helen will best be remembered for her moxie and tenacity, her singing and piano playing, and her love of God’s creation seen in her many gardens, groves of trees planted, her Afghan Hounds and her beloved horses.  Most importantly, she will be remembered for her unwavering faith in her Lord and Savior as taught in Matt. 28:20b “and surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Visitation and Services will be held on Saturday, February 3, 2018 at Cove Spring Church.  Friends may call from 12 -2.  The celebration of her life will begin at 2pm.  Internment will follow at Casstown Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, Helen has requested memorial donations be made to one of the following:

Doctors Without Borders USA, P.O. Box 5030, Hagerstown MD 21741

St. Jude Children’s Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105

Cove Spring Church, 5705 E. Walnut Grove Rd, Troy, OH 45373