Helen Santymire

Helen Santymire was born October 2, 1919 in Pittsburgh, PA, the only child of Otto Berlin Clem and Viva Pauline Goliday. She grew up in Paw Paw, West Virginia and graduated from Paw Paw High School in 1938. After graduating, Helen worked briefly at a Tannery. Helen was an avid roller-skater and she loved ice skating in the Paw Paw Tunnel during winter. Helen loved dancing and she often caught rides in the local bread truck to Cumberland, MD so she could dance. Although she moved from Paw Paw after she was married, she always enjoyed returning to her hometown to visit friends and attend WVU football games. In particular, she especially loved to visit friends that lived on the Cacapon River. As a true West Virginian, Helen was a devout WVU football fan. She loved to attend the games and watch the games on television to cheer on her Mountaineers. Not long after high school, Helen fell in love with a paper boy named Morton. He courted Helen on her mother's porch swing a swing that all their grandchildren would fondly remember throughout their childhood in Delaware. Mort and Helen were married in April of 1942. Mort and Helen enjoyed many happy years together in Paw Paw and Delaware. She was a loving wife to Mort for sixty-three years, and is preceded in death by her husband. Always lighthearted and full of life, Helen enjoyed spending time with friends and family to share a good laugh or a bite to eat. She was a true lady and she was never without her pocketbook and lipstick. As an avid shopper, Helen always enjoyed a great sale. She liked going to lunch with friends and keeping up with them through letters and cards, telephone calls, and visits. Throughout their many happy years as a couple, Helen became a great hostess. She held many cocktail parties for their friends in their home located in Wilmington, Delaware. The gatherings were enjoyed by many friends over the years. In addition to social gatherings, Helen and Mort held many joyous holiday celebrations as well; a family tradition that will be greatly missed but never forgotten. Helen's daughter, four granddaughters, and four great-grandchildren miss and love her dearly. In lieu of flowers, the family prefers contributions in her name to be made to the Paw Paw methodist Church, Jackson St & Lee St , Paw Paw, WV 25434.


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