Gladys Ruth Helmers

Gladys Ruth Helmers, 94, passed away Wednesday, January 20, 2016. Gladys was born in Auburn, MA, on March 25, 1921. The third of four children of Hjalmar Holstrom and Florence Cook Holstrom, she spent her childhood in Auburn with her sister, Edna, and brothers, Andy and Donald. Following her high school graduation, she attended Becker College, and went for war job training at the University of Maine. During the World War II years, Gladys inspected ordinance for the Navy Department. Later, she moved to Boston and became secretary to the head of the Mathematics Department at MIT. While at MIT, Gladys met the love of her life, Neil Helmers, an engineering student from Kansas City. They were soon married. As Neil spent the majority of his career working for the DuPont Company, Gladys and Neil made their homes in Delaware, Indiana, Texas, and Tennessee. They and their two children, Karen and Bill found each location to be a new adventure. Through the years, Gladys enjoyed golf, sewing, ballroom dancing, Red Cross volunteer work, and especially family gatherings. Gladys and Neil enjoyed their retirement years in North Falmouth, MA, where their children, Karen Bain and husband Ken, of Asheville, and Bill Helmers and wife Marguerite, of Milwaukee, WI, and their grandchildren, Matthew and wife Tracy, Eric and John Bain, and Emily and Caitlin Helmers had many memorable visits. Gladys' remains will return to Auburn where she will rest with Neil in Auburn's Hillside Cemetery. Gladys had a warm and sunny personality, and will be greatly missed by her family and all who knew her.