Helen Perry Finklea's Obituary
FINKLEA, HELEN PERRY (PRUYN) 81 of Dallas, Texas passed away on April 30,2011 after her long and courageous battle with lung cancer. Beloved Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Great Grandmother and friend to all, Helen lived an enriched, fulfilling life that was focused primarily on her family. Born on November 2, 1929 in Baton Rouge, LA., she moved to Dallas at the age of twelve where she eventually attended and graduated from Sunset High School. Upon graduating from Sunset at the age of 15, Helen attended the Metropolitan Business College in downtown Dallas. She worked at a local wholesale jewelry company and the Magnolia Petroleum Company until 1951 when she met the love of her life, Carroll Finklea. After a short courtship that resulted from a blind date at a Texas’ OU game, Helen and Carroll fell in love and were married on May 31, 1951 in Dallas where they began their long, successful marriage that lasted 56 wonderful years before Carroll passed away in 2007. Helen and her husband raised their four children in the Lake Highlands area of Dallas. Watching and supporting her children and grandchildren as they participated in their activities became a focal point of Helen’s life and was the very thing that gave her the most joy. From drill team and half-time band performances at Wildcat Stadium to baseball games, stage musicals to choir concerts, whatever the event Helen never missed out. This wonderful homemaker was a devoted wife who loved and supported her husband Carroll every day of their marriage. He was her Knight in Shining Armor and she was his Princess. Helen and her husband were avid dancers who belonged to Danceros Dance Club during the 50’s and 60’s and later could be found boot-scootin in the local honkytonks during the Country & Western craze of the 80’s and 90’s. Helen was a kind person who had a heart of gold and never missed an opportunity to lend a helping hand to those in need. Her warm smile and wonderful sense of humor will be greatly missed by her family and friends. She is preceded in death by her husband Carroll Finklea. She is survived by her four children, Karen Wilson (Ron), Colleen Wiese (Sid), Becky McKemie and Sam Finklea (Robin) and her grandchildren, Greg Wilson (Renee), Jennifer Bell (Jacob), Megan Derry (David), Emily Wilson, Summer Wiese, Jordan Wilson, Caroline Finklea, Max Finklea and Brittany McKemie and her great grandchildren, Mackenzie Bell, Addie Derry and Will Derry. The family will receive family and friends from 6-8 pm on Monday, May 2, 2011 at Restland Funeral Home 13005 Greenville Ave., Dallas, TX 75218. Services will be held on Tuesday, May 3, 2011 at 12:30 pm in the Memorial Chapel.
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