Helen Wharton

 

Helen Pearl Goins Wharton, 79, of Burlington passed away March 8th at the Hospice Home in Burlington after a long, hard fought battle with pancreatic cancer. Her daughter Sue was at her bedside. Helen was born to the late Rufus and Hester Goins, July 14th, 1939, in Middlesboro, Kentucky, and was one of twelve children. She met and married the late Ernest Edwin (Ed) Wharton in 1958. Their years of military service eventually had them stationed at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in Goldsboro, NC, where they settled their family and where they chose to make home when Ed retired from the military. Helen is survived by her 3 daughters and son-in-laws, Kim and Bobby Glenn Kimbrell, Sue and Robert Nagley, and Jackie and Don Morris, grandsons Justin Thomas and Scott Cook, and great grandchildren Caleb, Ava Rose, Jett and Lyla Grace. She was predeceased by her loving husband Ed in 2013, shortly after they relocated to Burlington. Helen was thankful for their military service and their opportunity to serve our country. Her best memories were seeing the USA from shore to shore, from Virginia to Washington state, Florida to California and everything in between. She said it is a beautiful country, God’s creation is so magnificent. Helen was grateful for the many friends made over the years while serving in the Goldsboro, Wayne County Republican Party. What Helen was most especially thankful for was her years of service to her Church and the congregation she loved as family. She became a member of The Lambs Chapel after relocating to Burlington. Helen said her years of teaching children in Sunday school gave her feelings of happiness and was her most rewarding job. She said children are our greatest gift, no matter color or creed, they are all truly to be loved.

As her health declined, when asked what she wanted on her grave stone, Helen said “I Love You “. And that is exactly who she was. She loved everyone and she never met a stranger. Her family remembers the woman who could not pass by a child without stopping to speak to them. Remembering the sparkle in her eyes and the smile on her face when she encountered those little ones, the family tells of whispering in her ear, “Mom...Stranger Danger”, but Helen payed no attention to them and eventually the family learned to just quietly stand, watch and smile. Her family remembers one stranger in particular whom Helen met at the Mebane Good Will Store, how they coordinated their shopping days and how this friend helped her load the car when her shopping was done. Upon meeting this stranger made friend by their mother, he said “I love your mother and I have heard all about you”. At the end of that shopping excursion, he helped that daughter load her car and another friend was made. Roosevelt, if you happen to read this, thank you for being her friend, you were her favorite! Helen leaves her family with hundreds of memories of the love she showed to others just as Jesus instructed us to do. When she saw a need in the trailer park she and Ed started after retirement, she would purchase food and clothing for the renters, medicine for their sick children and loan money to those already months past due on the rent because they were down on their luck. Many times her actions and love brought change to a life being torn apart by alcohol or drugs and many found Jesus through her. The family says that this is a tribute to Helen’s life but their late father Ed should be mentioned as well. Their home was an open door to anyone in need. They lived by these words, “God Will Provide “. Ed and Helen were a partnership. A partnership that was anchored in Christian love, that teaches us to love all whom our paths cross and to have an open heart to any that need assistance. And that they did. Helen’s parting words of wisdom: Don’t judge to quickly, be compassionate, really true friends are few and far between and do more river rafting! Helen will be greatly missed by her family and friends. The world was truly a better place with her in it. Helen’s favorite flower was a yellow rose. Plant one this year and remember her when you see those beautiful blooms in the years to come. The family would also like to sincerely thank the Hospice Home staff for their love and caring for Helen in her final days. God bless them for the work they do.  A funeral service will be held at 2pm on Friday March 15, 2019 in the McClure Funeral Chapel in Mebane. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials can be made in Helen’s name to Living Free Ministries, Wounded Warriors or other charities that support those who protect and fight for each of us, our great country and our freedom.