Helen M. Terpstra, 92, of Holly Hill, Florida passed peacefully after a short illness on March 6, 2016. Helen was born in Roxbury, Massachusetts to the late James and Edith Mellyn. Helen attended high school in Roxbury and graduated from Emmanuel College in 1945. Shortly after graduating from Emmanuel she married Luke Terpstra. Luke and Helen were married for 47 years until his passing in 1994. Helen and Luke had five children of their own and raised four of her sister’s children.
Helen held many jobs in her lifetime. She worked in sales and airline reservations, as a shipping and receiving clerk, and as a librarian. She was also a teacher for over 30 years until she and Luke moved to Flagler Beach, Florida in 1977.
In 1978, Helen joined the Coast Guard Auxiliary which she proudly served for 30 years. Helen held many positions with the Coast Guard Auxiliary. Among her achievements was her service as a Flotilla Staff Officer. She was promoted to Vice Flotilla Commander and then to Flotilla Commander. In 1999, Helen was appointed the position of Assistant District Staff Officer for Materials and served at this position until the District Store moved from Palm Coast in 2003. Helen operated PC Radio 3 from her house in Flagler Beach for several years, as a Watch Stander. Her close proximity to the ocean and intra-coastal waterway became a great asset to both the Coast Guard and Flotilla 14-3’s surface operations. Helen also worked on many public affairs events over the years and attended leadership and management school in Savannah, Georgia. Helen initiated and successfully ran the Water N’ Kids Program in Flagler County while also conducting Water Safety Training for the Flagler County Sheriff’s boat patrol team. Helen received many well deserved awards for her various service to the Flagler County area, including the Coast Guard’s Award for Outstanding Service and the Flagler Beach Chamber of Commerce Good Government Award.
Helen served Flagler Beach as a City Commissioner for four years, the last two of which she was the Chairman.
Helen is preceded in death by her parents James and Edith Mellyn and her beloved husband of 47 years Luke Terpstra. Left to cherish her memory are her 5 children; Donald Terpstra, Richard Terpstra, Helen Ann Walker, Joe Terpstra and Bob Terpstra, as well as her 11 grandchildren, and 23 great-grandchildren.
A visitation is scheduled for Monday March 28, 2016 from 9:30 A.M. - 10:30 A.M. in the Oceanside Room at Volusia Memorial Funeral Home located at 548 North Nova Road, Ormond Beach, Florida 32174. A service celebrating her life will immediately follow the visitation at 10:30 A.M. with an interment to follow at Volusia Memorial Park, located at 550 North Nova Road, Ormond Beach, Florida 32174. In lieu of flowers, the family humbly requests that memorial contributions be made in Helen’s memory to the St. Jude’s Research Hospital at www.stjude.org. Condolences may be shared with the family by visiting www.volusiamemorialfunerals.com
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