Helen Rolph Waddoups

Helen Rolph Waddoups passed away on June 17 at 4:30 p.m. She left the bounds of planet earth to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in eternal paradise. Her passing was quiet and peaceful in the presence of her husband, Bill, son, Dan, and daughter, Susan in Dover, Arkansas where she has lived for the pass 10 years. 

Helen was born in 1933 on a small family farm in Oshkosh, Wisconsin to her parents Charles and Anna Rolph. She was the youngest of seven children. The time of her birth was during difficult economic oppressive times which made a lasting impression on her. Close family relationships, loyalty, and hard work were qualities which Helen carried throughout her life.

When Helen was 10 years old, the family moved to Phoenix, Arizona. There, she began a new life with most of her siblings away from home serving in WW11. In Phoenix, she attended Osborn Grade School and North Phoenix High School. Her later years of high school were cherished friendship times and became some of her most important life-long friendships.

As a high school senior, she met her husband-to-be, Bill. Their first date was the high school junior/senior prom. After high school, Helen continued her education at Phoenix College and Arizona State University. She supported her schooling working as a secretary and doing accounting work. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in home-economics. One of her greatest pleasures was sewing many of her own clothes, knitting, crocheting and quilting. After college and working in the business world, Helen became an American Airlines stewardess which she greatly enjoyed. At the end of a short flying career, she and Bill were married in Anchorage, Alaska during his time in the U.S. Air Force.

After three years in Alaska, Helen longed for her old friends and hometown surroundings. She and Bill returned to Phoenix to begin their new life and start their family. A year later, daughter, Susan was born, and in another year, son, Will came along. Helen was a wonderful mother, wife and homemaker greatly loved by her husband and children.

Enjoying her hometown, Helen became involved socially with the Phoenix Visiting Nurses Association and the Phoenix Junior League. Church involvement was also a regular part of Helen’s life. Through an unusual set of circumstances, Helen was invited to be part of a women’s Bible study and prayer group. These meetings opened the door to a lifestyle where God and his teachings were central to all life. These ladies obviously had something very meaningful in their lives that Helen hadn’t seen before. This led to a new life focus and our eventual move to Prescott, Arizona, along with a new church involvement there.

While in Prescott, she and Bill were blessed with the birth of two sons, Daniel Edward Waddoups and Matthew Charles Waddoups. From Prescott, another move was made to the Cottonwood, Arizona area, and additional church involvement. God was becoming more the center of Helen’s life all the time.

What was being made clear to her was the primary Biblical truth that God’s secret mystery of successful living is spiritual rather than material or physical. It is the very Spirit of the person, Jesus Christ living inside of you. In Him, and knowing Him, are all of life’s true treasures. This is where real life is found. This is where Helen Waddoups found life in her 87 years on earth.

Those closest to her over these years were: her husband, Clifford W. (Bill) Waddoups Jr.; daughter, Susan Waddoups Jones; son-in-law, Bruce Jones; son, Clifford W. (Will) Waddouops 111 (deceased); son, Daniel E. Waddoups; daughter-in-law, Shannon Waddoups’ and son, Matthew C. Waddoups. She is alson survived by many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. 

A private memorial service will be held at a later date.

Obituary and online guests book are available at     www.Russellvillefamilyfuneral.com