Helen Davis Tippett

Helen was born in Tela, Honduras on December 14, 1921. She was 1 of 7 children born to English parents Richard Harvey Davis, a manager of fruit and sugar plantations in South America, and Hyacinth Slyfield, a prominent horse woman. Helen spent the majority of her childhood in Honduras and Ecuador, travelling to the United States to attend school where she received her high school diploma. She attended a business college in Louisiana and received her first job as a secretary with the Mississippi Shipping company. At 21 years of age, she travelled to Panama for a secretarial job. While in Panama she met her husband, Robert (Bob) Tippett, a civil engineer with the US Army Corp of Engineers. Helen and Bob were married in 1943 at camp McCoy in Sparta, Wisconsin. They were married for 72 years, had 3 children and lived in Worthington, Ohio.

Helen became a United States citizen in 1973. She was a swimming instructor and taught at the Worthington pools, Sawmill Athletic Club, and Northwest Swim Club. Helen also served as volunteer for the Columbus Metro Parks system. She and her husband Bob were avid naturalists, and belonged to the Audubon society.

Preceded in death by her husband Robert, Helen is survived by her daughters Elizabeth Tippett of Columbus and Constance Tippett Chandler of Portland, OR; son Thomas Tippett and daughter-in-law Sherry Tippett of Centerville, OH. Granddaughters include Amy Robison, Anna Gretschmann, Radha Pappas, Shelley Tippett, Katherine Lundbeck and Jackie Tippett; grandson Sam Nieburgs; great grandchildren Aidan Finn Gretschmann, Sky Grace Gretschmann, Jonah Pappas, Zoey Pappas, and Dashiell Lundbeck.

Services will be held Friday, December 18, 2015 at Worthington Presbyterian Church, 773 High Street. Friends may visit from noon to 1PM at which time a funeral will be officiated by Reverend Dr. Tim Jones. Interment will follow at Union Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be given to Golden Endings Golden Retriever Rescue c/o Kay Hirsch, 1043 Elmwood Avenue, 43212, or donate online at www.goldenendingsrescue.com.