Helen Matthaei's Obituary
Helen Barbara Leon Matthaei January 5, 1919 - June 15, 2012
Cherished wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend, Helen Barbara Matthaei, passed away on June 15, 2012, at 93 years of age. The youngest of three children, Helen was born to Helen Mary Miller Leon and Adolf Eric Leonard Leon on January 5, 1919 in St. Alban's, Vermont. The family later moved to Westerly, Rhode Island where she went to school through high school. Helen graduated as a pre-med major from Rhode Island State College.
She was always proud of her upbringing in New England, and her sons used to say that she developed strong values and a work ethic that were "straight off Plymouth Rock."
During World War II Helen served as a WAVE officer in the United States Navy. On July 15, 1944 at the Officer's Service Committee Dance at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York City as the Guy Lombardo orchestra played, she met the love of her life, a young ensign named Charles (Chuck) Matthaei. Chuck carried on the courtship as he served aboard the USS Missouri while Helen was stationed at Naval stations at Bayonne, New Jersey and later Quonset Point Rhode Island. After the war he followed her to Los Angeles where she was living with her sister and proposed. She accepted and the two were married on June 28, 1946 in Tacoma.
Throughout her life, Helen treated everyone with kindness and firmly believed in the importance of family and of giving back to the community. She was an active leader in PTA, the Gig Harbor Historical Society, and Women of Rotary. She served on the Board of Directors for Another Door to Learning and on the Scholarship Committee for the ARK Institute of Learning. Helen and Chuck have been generous supporters of many worthy organizations in Tacoma such as the Boy Scouts of America, Goodwill Industries, Rotary Club, Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium, and Multicare's Center for Healthy Living.
Helen was dedicated to supporting Chuck as he ran the family business, the Roman Meal Company. Helen enjoyed music, plays, travel, and attending lectures at Chuck's alma mater, the University of Washington. They enjoyed cruising aboard their boat, the Roamin' Roman, with family, friends, and fellow Rotarians.
Helen is survived by her husband of 66 years, Charles W.H. Matthaei; three sons, William and his wife Joan, Fred and his wife Dianne, Richard and his wife Marcia; seven grandchildren: Tony (Molly) Matthaei, Joshua Matthaei, Elizabeth (Dan) Carpenter, Jacob (Morgann) Matthaei, James Matthaei, Peter (Crystal) Matthaei, and Corey (Cari) Matthaei. She also leaves five great grandchildren: Kevin, Caroline, Taylor, Madeline, and Michael as well as ten nieces and nephews and numerous friends.
A memorial service will be held Thursday, July 5th, 2012 at Mountain View Funeral Home at 2:00. The family suggests that donations in Helen's honor could be given to the Gig Harbor Peninsula Historical Society or the ARK Institute of Learning Scholarship Fund.
Arrangements by Mountain View Funeral Home.
What’s your fondest memory of Helen?
What’s a lesson you learned from Helen?
Share a story where Helen's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Helen you’ll never forget.
How did Helen make you smile?