Helen London

Lena Helen “Fritz” (Schultz) London passed from this life to her eternal one, peacefully at home in Dallas, Texas on June 02, 2022, at the age of 95 years. She is survived by three sons: Donald (Terry) of Fort Worth, Texas; Richard of Dallas, Texas; and William (Ellen) of Santa Fe, New Mexico; and by two granddaughters: Megan of San Francisco, California, and Stella of Nashville, Tennessee.  Helen was preceded in death by her husband Jack, parents George and Kathryn Schultz, brother Harold and sister Wilma.

Helen was born in Uniontown, Pennsylvania to George Frank Schultz and Kathryn Molenock Schultz on October 20, 1926. She graduated from High School at 16 years old, and attended Waynesburg (PA) University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree. Helen married her best friend and soulmate, Jack Wilfred London, on August 08, 1948, in Knox, Pennsylvania. After working for several years at Christopher Settlement House in Chicago Illinois, the young family set out for their first church posting in Big Lake, Texas. In 1959, after a brief stint in Lyons, Kansas, Jack was called to become pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Hobbs, New Mexico. They became part of the community in Hobbs, where Helen was an educator for nineteen ½ years. She taught math at Houston Junior High for Seventh and Eighth grades, also volunteering her time as a math tutor. As a member of First Presbyterian Church, she served as a Deacon and an Elder, and was a stalwart soprano in the choir. They fell in love with the climate and people of the high desert area and spent many happy vacations in the mountains of Southern Colorado, hiking, fishing, and square dancing.

Helen belonged to Church Women United, and to Presbyterian Women. She was active in local politics as a member of Democratic Women of New Mexico, Democratic Women of Hobbs, and served as Secretary for the Democratic Party of Lea County. She was also a member of the Board of Directors for Hobbs Municipal Schools Credit Union where she served as Secretary. We are not sure where she found the time, but Helen was also an avid volunteer for the Lea County Literacy Alliance and at Humphrey House.

In 2004 Helen moved to Grace Presbyterian Village in Dallas, Texas, where she became a member of Trinity Presbyterian Church from 2004-2007 and served as an Elder. She an active member of Grace Presbyterian Village community as a member of the Grace Village Handbell Choir, and as general goodwill ambassador to all she encountered. She tutored in Math for the Dallas Public Library GED program, and was a member of the Desoto Presbyterian Church in Dallas from 2008 until her passing.