Helen Louise Woolson Plevich

Helen Louise Plevich (nee Woolson) passed away peacefully July 30, 2015 in Austin, Texas. She was raised in Birmingham, Michigan by Helen C. and L. Irving Woolson and enjoyed summers in Union Springs, N.Y. at her grandfather's cabin on Lake Cayuga. In Birmingham, she started her lifelong devotion to the Presbyterian Church and love of piano. In high school, she added clarinet to piano, and was honored to be drum majorette in the marching band.

She attended Cornell University where she studied architecture, a field well-suited to her logic and precision of thought. At Cornell, she met her future husband William Plevich. She married in 1954 and became a mother and homemaker raising three sons and a daughter in Peoria, Illinois and later Houston, Texas. While raising her family in Peoria, she was also active in Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, in church and in school activities. Her children have fond memories of the family summer vacations --- she planned itineraries that included touring and camping at many historic locations and national parks around the country. Especially memorable were times she played autoharp for sing-alongs, or taught her children the art of making s'mores.

The family relocated to Houston, Texas in 1972 where she began her affiliation with Windwood Presbyterian Church, an affiliation that she continued for four decades as an active, devoted, tithing member. She became a lay minister, a choir member, and a church secretary. She was active in Women of Windwood, Prayerful Stitchers, 55+ Young at Hearts as an event planner, and Saturday Night Bridge Club. She attended Salvation History Sunday School class regularly. Beyond her church activities, she remained active in Girl and Boy Scouts becoming a Girl Scout leader teaching sailing, water safety, canoeing and first aid and CPR to her troop. She was also very proud of her two Eagle Scouts.

Helen was not intimidated by new technologies. In the early 1970's, when the children went off to college, Helen purchased an early version of a personal computer and taught herself to use it. The proficiency she achieved led her to a programming position in the political polling company V. Lance Tarrance. She continued to use her computer skills by working as a church secretary at Windwood where, among other tasks, she created the weekly bulletin.

She was an avid reader, especially enjoying murder mysteries. She also practiced Tai Chi with close friends and loved working in her rose garden. When she retired from Windwood, she continued volunteering her time using her computer skills to coordinate Meals on Wheels deliveries and to publish the Spring Creek County Historical Association (Tomball Pioneer Museum) newsletter.

She was preceded in death by her father L. Irving Woolson, her mother Helen C. Woolson, and her brother James E. Woolson.

She is survived by son Paul Plevich and his wife Joan; son Alexander Plevich and his wife Kathy; son Charles Plevich and his wife Diane; and daughter Beth Plevich and her husband Maxwell Stinchcombe; her four grandchildren, and her three great grandchildren.

She was kind, caring and dedicated to others. She will be missed.

Memorial Service Saturday August 22, 10:00 am at Windwood Presbyterian Church, Houston, TX.