Helen Elaine Neal, age 96, passed away peacefully at Walnut Hills Retirement Home on Thursday, April 2nd, 2020.
The daughter of the late Everett and Ailleen Switzer, she was born on January 25th, 1924 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Helen was a graduate of Middletown High School and received her RN from Good Samaritan Hospital in Cincinnati. She worked at Middletown Hospital, then at Sorg Paper Co. in Middletown as an industrial RN where she met the love of her life, Larry. Helen spent the majority of her career as a school nurse for the Edgewood City School District of Trenton, Ohio. On May 25th, 1957, she married Larry Lee Neal at First Christian Church in Middletown. They had 60 happy years together until he passed in November 2017.
Helen was a very hard working and dedicated wife and mother. She enjoyed sewing, knitting and crocheting. Her flower gardens were a source of great pleasure and beauty. Helen was a woman of strong faith. She played piano, taught Sunday School, and participated in the choir and bell choir throughout her life. She was a member of St Paul's United Church of Christ of Middletown, First Christian Church of Middletown and Millersburg First Presbyterian Church.
Helen is survived by her daughters, Laura (Mark) Schmidt of Orrville, OH and Julie (Tim) Cupka of Lebanon, IN; 12 grandchildren, Clinton Hammond (Katie), Amelia Hammond, Jared Schmidt, Susan Cupka Head (Kevin), Dorothy Cupka, Lorna Oskouie (Abe), Leeanna Steele (Chris), Julie Rose Cupka, Addison Cupka, Alexis Himseih (Ammar), Chrissy Hudson (Chris) and Jessica Marshall; five great-grandchildren; two sisters, Elaine Landon and Marlene (John) Purtan; sister-in-law, Donna Switzer; and 9 nieces and nephews.
Helen was proceeded in death by her parents; loving husband, Larry; son, Stephen Marshall; brother, Gene Switzer; brother-in-law, Ronald Landon; and sister-in-law, Jeannie Schodorf.
The family wishes to express a special thanks to the outstanding care provided by Walnut Hills Retirement Home and LifeCare Hospice.
There will be a private graveside service at Killbuck Cemetery on Monday, April 6th. Memorial contributions may be made to Millersburg First Presbyterian Church, Walnut Hills Retirement Home or to LifeCare Hospice.
