Helen F. Willoughby

Helen France Willoughby was born in Hulbert, Oklahoma on November 27, 1923, the proud daughter of Charles Lawson France and Minnie Lee Cook. Her family left the difficult farming situation in Oklahoma for a better life in California. She grew up in Corona, California and worked for the Army at Camp Hahn during World War II. Following the war, she met Bryan Willoughby, the brother of her sister’s husband, and they were married in 1946.

Helen and Bryan, who had both grown up in Oklahoma and left the state at an early age, started a new life as a married couple in the San Diego area. Bryan, a civil engineer with the California Department of Highways, now CalTrans, supported numerous road and freeway construction projects throughout San Diego and Imperial Counties. Helen and their two children, Steven and Susan, accompanied Bryan to some interesting locales like Blythe, Brawley, Calexico, and El Centro in Imperial County.

Hardworking and saving where they could over the years, Helen and Bryan decided to put down roots while Steven and Susan were still in grade school and purchased 2.5 acres in Eucalyptus Hills near Lakeside, California and built their first of two houses on the property. The family joined the Lakeside Community Presbyterian Church in 1957 and supported construction of a new sanctuary and a church retreat in Pine Hills near Julian. Helen and Bryan were active in the Church Mariner’s group for married couples. During this time, Helen became a licensed real estate agent and continued as a superb homemaker for her husband and children. She always emphasized the importance of getting a good education and witnessed her children’s graduation from El Capitan High School and San Diego State University.

Once the children left home, Helen and Bryan longed to return to a more rural life like they had as children in Oklahoma. With Helen’s real estate acumen they located 80 acres in Tierra Del Sol near Boulevard, California. Following Bryan’s retirement, they built their own home, had a large garden, an orchard, a tractor, and numerous pets. Affectionately known as “The Ranch”, Helen and Bryan loved to entertain friends and relatives including grandchildren. Helen loved singing with the Boulevard “Mountain Mamas” and was active in several homeowner’s organizations defending back country property rights.

After Bryan passed away, Helen moved permanently to Lemon Grove, California. She remained active with the Boulevard community and enjoyed weekly meetings with friends at the Lemon Grove Senior Center.

Helen is survived by: her son, Steven Willoughby, a retired air force colonel and defense contractor, and her daughter, Susan Willoughby Mullert, a retired teacher and librarian; five grandchildren – Scott, Glenn, Mark, Sara, and Bethany; and three great-grandchildren – Glenn, Viggo, and Alex.

Helen was a wonderfully giving and personable soul who will be deeply missed by all who knew her.