Helene Wunder Harms

COLUMBIA – Helene W. Harms was born in Fuerth, Germany November 23rd, 1928 and died April 3rd, 2020 in Columbia, South Carolina. She loved South Carolina and stated when she got back from a trip to Hawaii that South Carolina was prettier.

She was the daughter of the late Dr. Fritz Wunder and Kunigunde Meier Wunder.

She once said she saw a UFO and yelled, “Hello” to it! “Very politely,” she made a point to tell everyone.

She could cook anything and did including calves brains that she tried to disguise as pork chops. The oozing when you cut into them discreetly gave her away.

She was an amazing knitter the sound of knitting needles could be heard on car rides and at home watching TV. She won eight South Carolina State Fair ribbons for her knitting and crocheting. Busy hands.

She loved to swim but never put her head in the water. Her hair always up in a perfect bun and her makeup in place.

She had a beautiful white Halston dress that she would wear to Fort Jackson New Year’s Eve parties always sure to keep the tag out so that everyone could see “Halston.”

She loved being a military wife and when new neighbors would move into her beloved neighborhood who were not military she would point and whisper “Civilians.” When her husband died she became an honorary member of the Rotary Club in his stead. She was on PTA and voted every time there was an election. A duty she did not take lightly. She was a marvelous gardener and loved her roses and azaleas.

She was so beautiful that once on a flight to Germany to bury her father she was mistaken for Elizabeth Taylor. She had to fly first class the only seat left on the flight and wore her dark sunglasses to hide her tears and in coach they all said “Elizabeth Taylor”. One young man even snuck up to first class and thanked Miss Taylor for her movies. She mouthed to him “you're welcome.” She would say forever after she gave that man Elizabeth Taylor.

She never liked gossip and felt family business was only for family, but loved a good story and often was the good story.

She lived through Hitler’s Third Reich as a child and survived a massive stroke where she flat-lined twice. She said she saw a beautiful light and wanted to go to it but remembered she had a family to take care of so she came back and took care of us for another forty years.

Helene Wunder Harms was magical and mystical and lived up to her nickname Hexla which means little witch. She passed away in her sleep as she had always wanted.

She is predeceased by her husband of 57 years, Lt Col. Roy C. Harms and her brother, Fritz Wunder and sister, Elisabeth Denk, and her very special friend and companion, Earl Olson. She is survived by her daughters, Heide Shanahan (Bill Shanahan), Holli Harms (David Walters), Heli Shelley (Jay Shelley), and Barbara Shelley, and her grandchildren, Faun Shreffler (Scott), Kirk Shanahan (Vicky), Vickie Lee (Steve Smith), Tim Shanahan (Melissa), Greg Flerx, Jr., Jayson Shelley (Nicole), Heather Shelley Pressley (Andrew), and Beatrice Walters. And her great-grandchildren, Owen Shreffler, Alexis and family, Sean and Conner Shanahan, Jason and Amy Smith, Will and Emma Shanahan. And her great-great-grandchildren, Cole, Peyton and Sadie Smith, and Charlotte Shelley.

A private graveside service will be held in Elmwood Cemetery. Dunbar Funeral Home cares about the health and well-being of the community that we serve. For your safety and convenience, Mrs. Harms' funeral service will begin live streaming at 12:50 p.m. on Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/DunbarDevine/

Memories may be shared at www.dunbarfunerals.com.