Marvin W. Helms

Obituary: Kannapolis, NC- Marvin W. Helms, age 94, died Wednesday, January 30, 2013 at his home after an extended illness. He was born August 31, 1918 in Union County, NC, the son of the late Lewis C. Helms and Arilla Simpson Helms. He moved to Kannapolis in 1942. Marvin was self-employed for most of his life as watch repairman. In earlier years he and his late brother ran a jewelry store in Concord. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II in Guam where he was a navigation technician who worked on airplanes before pilots were allowed to fly them. Marvin was a fifty year-plus member of the former Royal Oaks Presbyterian Church that was in Kannapolis where he had also served as a deacon. His civic interest included the now-defunct Royal Oaks Optimist Club that was also in Kannapolis where he had received the Optimist of the Year award for faithful service. He loved gardening and will be forever remembered as a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. His wife regarded him as "the best man God could ever put on this earth." In addition to his parents he is preceded in death by three brothers and one sister. The funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, February 4, 2013 at Whitley's Funeral Home Main Chapel, Kannapolis, NC. Burial will follow at Carolina Memorial Park, Kannapolis, NC with military rites conducted by the Cabarrus County Veterans Honor Guard. The family will receive friends from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. Monday at the funeral home prior to the service. Survivors include his wife of almost 73 years, Katie Laney Helms; one son, Marvin Eugene Helms of Paulden Arizona; one daughter, Kaye Moore & husband, Gene of Salisbury, NC; three granddaughters, Kim Barnhardt & husband, Rick of Rockwell, NC; Angie Wilson & husband, Todd of Salisbury, NC; and Marietta Abernathy & husband, James of Kannapolis, NC; and ten great-grandchildren. Memorials may be made to St. Jude's Childrens Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-1942. On-line condolences may be left at www.whitleysfuneralhome.com.
Visitation: 10:00am - 11:00am Monday February 4, 2013 Whitley's Funeral Home

Service: 11:00am Monday February 4, 2013 Whitley's Funeral Home Chapel

Interment: Carolina Memorial Park