Helen Wheeler

October 29, 1923 – June 8, 2025

          “What is all the commotion?” Helen said as she walked to the window of the second story office building  where she was a book keeper for a bank in downtown Ann Arbor, Michigan.  The street below was crammed with people; all jumping up and down, yelling, dancing and joyful. “The war is over! The war is over!”  She heard rising from the throngs of people below.  This was of course September 2, 1945. Helen, at just 21 was a recent graduate  of Ypsilanti, Michigan’s  Cleary School of Business and a fairly new bride.

          Helen’s story began on October 29, 1923 in Ann Arbor, Michigan when she was the second born to Harry and Ester Clarke.  A third sibling would follow.  David, whom succumbed to the flu at the age of seven when Helen was only three and Richard a surviving brother now deceased as well.

          Much of Helen’s early childhood was spent on the road through out the midwest as Harry sought work in agriculture.  Any job was hard to find during those years (late twenties, early thirties).  While in Arkansas Helen met and shook hands with Eleanor Roosevelt.  “Not a very attractive woman” she would comment.  Ultimately the family returned to Ann Arbor and Harry worked for the Argus camera company.  It was at this time that Helen began her school life in the Ann Arbor schools and it was in high school French class that she met Phil, her future husband. Helen graduated from Ann Arbor High School a year ahead of Phil.

          Shortly after Phil’s high school graduation he was accepted into the Army Air Corp as an Air Cadet. Helen had always been strong willed and one day, at 19 she went to Ester and told her, “I am going to take the train to Alabama for Phil’s graduation and to see him get his wings and his commission as a Second Lieutenant.”  Ester’s response of course was, “No! You are not!”  Helen had been working in an Ann Arbor department store while in high school and after graduation.  She had saved $80.00 from her $1.25 an hour wages and she took all of it to finance her trip to Alabama.   While in Alabama Phil suggest they go ahead and get married since she was there any way. Helen said, ”That sounds like a plan.”  So, late in the afternoon of August 28,1943 they showed up at the office of the Justice of The Peace.  They were told the office was about to close and there was no one there to type up the paper work unless they could do it. “No problem, I’ll do this.”  Helen said.  Helen and Phil returned to Ann Arbor on furlough as a newly married couple.  Helen accompanied Phil to Tampa, Florida were Phil was stationed while undergoing advanced flight training.  Upon graduation Phil would receive orders to the 431st fighter squadron in Italy where he would go on to fly twenty one combat missions escorting B-24’s. 

          Helen had returned to Ann Arbor and taken the job with the bank. Helen gave birth to their first child in 1946 while Phil was still over seas.  Upon Phil’s return to the States they began to put down roots in Ypsilanti, Michigan where Phil continued his education.  Helen would work for the Ypsilanti Public Schools in numerous clerical positions until her retirement in 1985.   At the outbreak of the Korean conflict Phil was reactivated and the family moved to Phoenix, Arizona where Phil was stationed at Luke Air Force base as a flight instructor for the duration.  Helen greeted the couples second child while in Arizona and she would go on to have a third child back in Ypsilanti.  Helen would eventually greet seven grandchildren (one deceased), six great grandchildren and four great, great grandchildren (one deceased).

          Family was not the only thing that kept Helen busy. After she and Phil had both retired they sailed  their 31 foot sloop, Schools Out from Michigan to Florida calling different marinas home for the next 10 years prior to settling down in Floral City, Florida.  When asked how she was able to take on the role of First Mate on the sail boat her reply was typical Helen. ”If I wanted to be with Phil and not sit home alone I guess I have to go too.”  In her later years as her health began to decline Helen would talk about flying away. “I should just fly away; I am ready to go see Phil”.

          Always a bit of an adventurer Helen travelled with Phil to: Alaska, Hawaii and Italy.

          Talk about commotion, indeed! What a life!  A Celebration of Life to be announced later.