Helen Marie Knox

Helen Marie Knox: Helen passed away Tuesday afternoon, October 02, 2012, at the MHP Hospice Services Serenity House. Those left to cherish her memory are her daughter, Tamra Knox of Oskaloosa, IA; her son and daughter-in-law, Carl Knox and Elizabeth Anne Knox of Unionville, CT; a granddaughter, Kathryn Knox also of Unionville; a sister, Elsie Swim of OSkaloosa; three sisters-in-law: Delores Krile of Oskaloosa, Ida Grey of Ozark, AR, and Shirley Cross of Michigan; several nephews and nieces; great nephews and nieces; and her brothers and sisters in Christ. Helen Marie Krile was born, May 9, 1927, to Frederick and Edna (Couch) Krile in Truax, Iowa. She was a 1945 graduated of Oskaloosa High School. Helen was united in marriage with Wilbur L. Knox, March 15, 1946, in Oskaloosa. They first made their home in Oskaloosa where Helen worked at several different jobs including the Continental Overall Factory and Bell Telephone Company. Helen and Wilbur later moved to California for better paying jobs. She worked at Douglas Air Base and later was the manager of an ice cream store. They bought a house in Chatsworth, CA and in 1959 they adopted their first child, Tamra, and in 1961 their son, Carl, followed. They moved to Littlerock, CA in 1963, where Wilbur had a job with Lockheed Martin Corporation. In 1964, Lockheed transferred the family to Sunnyvale, CA so Wilbur could work in the plant there. Wilbur passed away suddenly in 1975 and Helen moved the family back to Iowa to be near extended family. In 1980, Helen was briefly married to Clayton Poe before he passed away. In her later years, she worked at Spurgeon's Department Store in Oskaloosa before health concerns forced her to retire. Helen was a member of St. Mark's Lutheran Church in California and St. John Lutheran Church in Oskaloosa. Helen was very active in the church: she was a member of the Women's Guild and the Alter Guild, and served on several other boards and committees. Helen had a beautiful soprano voice and sang for many years in the choir. She was a long time Sunday school teacher, and a member of the Lutheran Laymen's League. Outside of church, Helen served as a den mother for the Boy Scouts and was active in the PTA when her children were young. Helen was a devoted mother and grandmother who took great delight in her children and grandchild. She was skilled with a crochet hook and created many beautiful lace doilies and tablecloths. She was also an accomplished seamstress: she made wedding gowns, suits of clothing and did alterations for many community members. In addition to her parents and her husbands, Wilbur and Clayton, she was preceded in death by her brother, Carl Krile and his wife Betty; brother, James Krile; sister, Joy Hatfield and her husband Earl; brother-in-law, Bill Swim; sister-in-law and best friend, Betty Clark and her husband Melvin; and a great nephew, Caleb Krile. PDF Printable Version

Helen Marie Knox

May 9, 1927 - October 2, 2012