Helene Garst Oshlo's Obituary
With great sadness, the family of Helene Elizabeth Garst Oshlo announces her death on Tuesday, April 10, 2012, at her long time Dallas home after a lengthy battle with dementia. Helene was born Helen Elizabeth Garst to the Reverend John Newton Garst and Martha Elizabeth Blanche Beasley, on August 17, 1916, in Alhambra, California. She was the granddaughter of Samuel Waddell Beasley and Tennessee Martin Hale of Johnson City, Tennessee. Helene was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa her junior and senior years at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa where she met her husband, Frank Henry Oshlo, Jr. They were married in Des Moines on May 29, 1941 in a double ceremony with her sister, Hazel Ruth Garst, officiated by their father, the Reverend John Newton Garst. Helene’s love of children led her to become a dedicated first grade teacher for approximately 40 years; the last 25 at Hyer Elementary School in Highland Park, taking mandatory retirement at age 70 in 1986. She was proud to have taught many of her first students’ children. Services were held on Saturday, April 14, 2012, at Highland Park Methodist Church, where Helene and Frank were a founding couple of the 2×2 Adult Sunday School class in 1952. Rev. Barbara Marcum officiated. Helene was laid to rest next to her husband Frank at Restland Mausoleum. She was predeceased by her husband and siblings, Jeanne Pauline “Polly” Garst DeNeff, Hazel Ruth Garst Canady, and Ralph Eugene Garst. She is survived by her son, Eric Lee Oshlo, and daughter, Kristina Sue Oshlo Speece. She has six surviving grandchildren: Dana Turman, Kymberly Escobar, Lisa Oshlo, Laura Oshlo Burleson, Lindsay Speece McPherson, and Whitney Speece, and four surviving great grandchildren: Andrew Turman, Thatcher Burleson, Sloane Escobar, and Gray Burleson. Fondly known as “Nana,” she will be missed by her family and friends. The family requests donations in her memory to the Helene Oshlo fund at Robert S. Hyer Elementary School, 3920 Caruth Blvd, Dallas, Texas 75225.
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