Helen Vranch Barnhardt

Helen Vranch Barnhardt was born October 9, 1928 in Yolyn, West Virginia, and she passed away at home on January 16, 2021, in Orlando, Florida, with her family at her side. She was 92, and leaves behind her husband, Hubert J. Barnhardt, Jr. They were married for 65 years.

Helen grew up in the coalfields of southern West Virginia, the third child of Steve Vranch and Frances Stanečić Vranch. Helen and her older brother George, older sister Elizabeth and younger brother Steve spent their childhood in McConnell, West Virginia, in Logan County, after their father died when they were youngsters. With her sister, Helen swam in the Guyandotte River, played ball in a nearby alley, roamed the mountains with the family dog, babysat, took small odd jobs and attended church.

She and Hubert met after she began to take the school bus from McConnell, through the neighboring town of Stollings to Logan High School. At the time she was taller than him. She would reach 5 feet, 9 inches, but Hubert would surpass that quite a bit. At high school, Helen and Hubert were in the same homeroom. She was very quiet, a nice-looking young lady, and she dressed comfortably, Hubert recalls. They both graduated in 1946, and Helen began to work in the office for a construction company.

At Christmas in particular, Hubert made a point to bring Helen a gift when he would visit her at her home in McConnell. One Christmas he asked her to marry him but she turned him down, saying he didn’t love her enough. By the next Christmas, though, he asked again and she said, “Yes.”

After marrying on July 3, 1955, and with encouragement from a close friend of Helen’s, the couple moved to Orlando, Florida. Hubert was hired for electronics training at Martin Marietta, where he began a career of second-shift and third-shift work that, in turn, brought Helen’s skills in managing their home and raising sons Hugh and Steven to the fore. At their corner lot on Tara Court, there was enough room for the boys and their friends to play outside. Helen rode an old bicycle they called Black Beauty. She gardened, and regularly talked with her neighbor across the fence. She had an ability to listen and support -- rather than criticize -- that endured throughout her life, according to her two daughters-in-law.

As a mom, Helen was devoted to whatever her sons were involved in, which would extend to her grandchildren, too. She volunteered in the elementary school nurse’s office. She drove the boys wherever they needed to go, even though she could be considered a timid driver. She perfected the art of feeding the boys and their friends with cheeseburgers, more cheeseburgers, tacos, macaroni and cheese, a steady stock of Little Debbie cakes and more. She made peanut butter fudge, and mincemeat cookies for special occasions. She said nighttime prayers with the two boys, between their twin beds, and at least once was so tired she fell asleep in the middle of a prayer.

As a grandmother, Helen supplied plenty of ice cream and in small ways and large made each of the five grandchildren feel as though they were her pride and joy. She wore a necklace with five figures, representing each child, and she kept a clock in her kitchen -- a gift from when the

grandchildren were young -- with recording on the hour of each grandchild shouting out the time and a greeting to her. Her influence played a large part in the peacefulness in the family and the paths that the grandchildren have taken as young adults, one grandson says.

Helen, having been raised during the Great Depression, was able to make do and recycle anything again and again, including Clorox bottles and paper towels. In more recent years she took in her own clothes as she lost weight, and she kept a patched blanket nearby. A fall several years ago is what precipitated her decline in health prior to her death.

Helen is seen as someone who got things done, sometimes fierce, sometimes a jokester, always fair-minded, practical, independent and infinitely welcoming to family and friends alike. It was her practice to have every visitor stay at her house, if possible, rather than put anyone up in a hotel. Where children were concerned, she was the adult to get down on the floor and play. She defined her service to others, and to the world, as helping anyone who came to her attention as she lived her life in Orlando, rather than traveling faraway to help. She and Hubert would drive across the state to visit with relatives who happen to be in the area, and they hosted many, many relatives and friends on visits to Walt Disney World, where Hubert later worked until his retirement.

Even as she grew more frail, Helen continued to make her way around the house at night to check that the doors and windows were locked, a holdover Hubert says from his night shift work. Like her mother, Helen attended church regularly. In Orlando, she was a member of Florida Shores Baptist Church, and then Vista Church later in life.

Helen leaves behind her husband, Hubert J. Barnhardt, Jr.; her eldest son Hubert J. Barnhardt III and wife Lou, and children Jay, Andrew and Emmie; her younger son Steven Barnhardt and wife Robbye, and children Casey Radcliffe and her husband Todd, and Wesley; her older sister Elizabeth Vranch Bragg; her sister-in-law Doris Vranch; her nephew Wayne Vranch and wife Sue; and her nieces Mary Ann Bragg and Janey Bragg Lackey and husband Kip; and other relatives and friends.

Helen was predeceased by her parents Steve Vranch and Frances Stanečić Vranch; her older brother George Vranch; younger brother Steve Vranch; an infant son; and her niece Laura Bragg McDaniel.

A graveside memorial service for family members is planned on Jan. 30, 2021. Her funeral arrangements are being made by Baldwin Fairchild Funeral Home in Orlando. The family welcomes donations to the Russell Home in Orlando (www.russellhome.org) as an expression of sympathy instead of flowers.