Helene Myers Hamm

Born on February 22, 1922 in Oxnard, California, Helene was the only child of Charles Herbert Myers and Iva Poplin Myers. She was the great-granddaughter of John Poplin who came to Ventura County from Kansas in 1885 and purchased a large portion of the original Spanish land grant of Don Jose de Arnaz—known as Rancho Arnaz—establishing five generations in the local ranching community. John’s son, Helene’s grandfather, Adley Greenfield Poplin was a well-known Ojai Valley pioneer and citrus rancher who purchased the historic Carne residence and surrounding Bonito Rancho from John Carne in 1912. Helene proudly carried on her ancestors’ legacy of ranching on Bonito Rancho where she grew oranges and lemons and the property remains in the family to this day.

Helene lived nearly all of her 93 years in Ojai. She grew up riding her pony across the Valley and its ranches—the same land where her pioneer ancestors cultivated citrus and wheat back when Ojai was still known as Nordhoff.

A graduate of Ojai Valley School where she attended from the 2nd through 9th grades, Helene often recounted being one of only three students who graduated in 1936. Her many creative talents were nurtured at OVS. As a student, she and two of her shop classmates crafted a copper sign in the shape of an oak tree which they gave to the school upon graduation. The sign hung at the driveway of lower campus for many decades and became an iconic marker of the entrance to the school. Helene went on to attend Nordhoff Union High School where she graduated in 1939. She continued her education at Ventura College where she studied Liberal Arts and graduated in 1941.

It was in the summer of 1940, while vacationing with family in Yosemite, when Helene met her future husband, Robert Hamm, who was serving as a seasonal Park Ranger. They married on April 12, 1942 in the Ojai Presbyterian Church where Helene sang in the choir during her youth. Bob’s service in the U.S. Air Force during World War II soon led the young couple away from Ojai for a short time; they lived at Camp Callan in San Diego while Bob completed his service as Chaplain’s Assistant, then at Randolph Field, Texas while he fulfilled his commission as Captain in the Chemical Warfare Service. At the end of the War they moved back to Helene’s native Ojai and settled into family life, raising two children.

As the wife of Ventura County Clerk and Recorder Robert Hamm, Helene enjoyed supporting Bob’s role as an elected public official through service to her community. She supported many Ojai and county-wide organizations, several of which she was an original member. Helene was a charter member of the Ojai Valley Junior Women’s Club and had the honor of serving as the group’s second president, a role she was elected to in 1950. She was one of the first original members of Assistance League of Ventura County, a philanthropy she served faithfully for more than 50 years; she was also active in the Las Patronas Auxiliary for many decades. She was a volunteer for the Ojai Valley Tennis Tournament, serving on the housing committee and supporting the tea tent’s venerable tradition of hospitality. She served as president of Villanova Preparatory School’s Mothers Club, was a volunteer at the Ojai Valley Community Hospital and belonged to Daughters of the American Revolution.

A passionate and accomplished genealogist, Helene’s exceptional research skills enabled her to uncover and substantiate centuries-worth of family history. Respected by fellow researchers for her meticulous documentation of source information, she was often consulted for her expert knowledge of both her craft and the family lines she studied. One of her greatest joys was helping budding genealogists discover their family trees. She formed lasting bonds of friendship with many of the relatives she discovered across the country, some of which continue on through her children and grandchildren.

Gifted with many creative abilities, Helene was especially talented in the lost arts of sewing and needlework and made beautiful, hand-stitched clothing for her children and grandchildren when they were young. Her fancywork was intricate and detailed. She lovingly made special keepsake Christmas tree ornaments for her family which she stitched meticulously by hand, each embellished with colorful beading and exquisite embroidery and personalized with one of her child’s or grandchild’s name and year made.

Known for her beautiful flowers and ability to make virtually anything grow, Helene’s garden was a well- manicured tapestry of colorful blossoms. She was a member of the Ojai Garden Club for more than 50 years. She inherited her love of gardening from her mother, and passed on her green thumb to the next generation.

An adopter of computers at age 70, Helene embraced technology and was a nonagenarian computer whiz. She was a savvy bridge player, a superlative homemade chocolate frosting maker, and a doting grandmother with infinite time for hosting sleepovers and playing games with her grandchildren.

A true Ojai old-timer, and an authentic link to a bygone era, Helene was a treasure-trove of first-hand knowledge of the Valley’s history, its original pioneer families and its agricultural heritage. Her children and grandchildren loved hearing her recount tales of her ancestors’ migration west, stories of growing up during Ojai’s simpler days, and fond memories of special people who helped shape our community.

Self-sacrificing in her devotion and generosity to her family, “Mimi”, as they affectionately called her, was an attentive, caring and indelible daily blessing in the lives of her husband, children and grandchildren. And they loved her dearly.

Helene is admired for her intelligence, creativity, determination, wit, courage and willingness to speak her mind. She touched the lives of many friends with quiet acts of kindness and graced her family with sweet memories of a warm and caring home. She is forever treasured by all who loved her.

Helene is survived by her daughter, Sharon H. Booth, Ojai, CA; son, David R. Hamm (Rochelle), Mountain View, CA; granddaughter, Kimberly N. Booth, San Francisco, CA; and grandson, Avery P. Hamm, Mountain View, CA. Helene was preceded in death by her husband, Robert L. Hamm; and son-in-law, Dr. Richard G. Booth.

A family graveside service was held on Sunday, August 9, 2015 at Ivy Lawn Memorial Park. Expressions of sympathy in remembrance of Helene may be made to her favorite charity, Veterans of Foreign Wars, 3801 Market Street, Ventura, CA 93003, or to HELP of Ojai, P.O. Box 621, Ojai, CA 93024.

Arrangements were under the direction of the Ted Mayr Funeral Home, 3150 Loma Vista Road, Ventura. Condolences may be sent to TedMayrFuneralHome.com.