Barbara Helms

BARBARA ELLEN (KREPPS) HELMS, 75, of Bellville, Texas, passed away Saturday, June 18, 2016, in College Station, Texas. She was born November 16, 1940, in Connellsville, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Martin Edward Krepps and Mary Ellen (Dascani) Krepps. After high school, she attended Durbin Business School. Barbara was united in marriage to James "Jim" Helms in Bellville, Texas, on November 25, 1977. She was a member of the Junior and High School Marching Band and Chamber Orchestra and the 1st chair clarinet position throughout. Barbara was a childhood cancer survivor and worked in the Pentagon. She was an accomplished musician, church organist, Girl Scout leader, fostered homeless animals, baked custom wedding cakes, artist/painter, as well as competitive horseman and barrel racer. She moved to Texas, which she loved and worked in the community as an Austin County dispatcher, the D.A. office, for local attorneys and as a respiratory therapist. Her later years were spent as a caregiver, raising two of her grandchildren. Barbara is survived by her husband: Jim Helms of Bellville; daughter: Diana Anderson of Brenham; son Mark Smitley and wife, Kimberly, of Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania; grandchildren: Travis Smitley of Bellville, Amber Smitley Bass and husband, Jud, of Bellville, Seth Anderson of Brenham, Cullen Anderson of Brenham, Ashley Smitley of Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania; great grandchildren: Ty and Caden Smitley, Kayla Bass, Bristal Krenek and Eleeana Basinger. She was preceded in death by her parents, Martin Edward Krepps and Mary Ellen Krepps. Arrangements for the services in Pennsylvania are under the direction of the Brooks Funeral Home, 111 East Green Street. Connellsville, PA 15425