Obituary of Helen B. Lockwood
Helen B. Lockwood, 88, of Pleasant Valley, passed away on Monday, March 18, 2019 at her residence. She was born August 20, 1930 in Farmington, WV, a daughter of the late Joseph and Katie Yonkovich Besedich. She was widowed by her husband of 64 years, Richard Gray Lockwood in 2013.
Helen was a member of the Valley Chapel United Methodist Church and a graduate of Farmington High School. She began her working career at Westinghouse in Fairmont which is where she met her husband Richard and decided to stay at home and raise their family. After her children entered school, she began working for the Marion County Board of Education as a school cook, starting at Colfax, but spending most of her career at Pleasant Valley School.
Family was important to Helen. She was the driving force of the Lockwood family, making sure everyone attended family gatherings and holiday dinners. She was a loving mother, but truly enjoyed spoiling her grandchildren. Helen loved to cook and bake, she made bread daily and there was always a cookie to be found. You never left her home hungry and you always left with leftovers. She will be greatly missed by her children and grandchildren.
Survivors include her sons, Gary E. and his wife Linda Lockwood of Littleton, CO, and Mark R. and his wife Sandi Lockwood of Sugar Land, TX, a daughter-in-law, Sue Lockwood of Fairmont, WV, grandchildren: Lysa Lockwood, Ryan E. Lockwood, Rayan Matthews and Michael Cinalli, Audra and her husband Evan Malone, Tyler and his wife Maria Lockwood, and Drew and his wife Stephanie Lockwood, great grandchildren: Gage Alan Matthews, Alyssa Lockwood, Kaine Malone, and Gray Cinalli, as well as several nieces and nephews.
In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her son, Alan Gray Lockwood, and her siblings: infant brother, Yova Besedich, brother, Dan Besedich, sisters, Olga Myers, Mildred Hughes, Josephine Flannery, Malava Blanton, Virginia Davis, Mary Chickrell, and Kay Stache.
The family would like to thank the entire staff of Amedysis Hospice for their loving care for Helen over the last two months.
Memorial Contributions may be made to Valley Chapel United Methodist Church, 1511 Pleasant Valley Road, Fairmont, WV 26554 or to Amedysis Hospice, 67 Casino Dr #102, Anmoore, WV 26323.
At Helen’s request, cremation services will be held. The family will have private committal services at Grandview Memorial Gardens at a later date. Online condolences may be made to www.fordfuneralhomes.com.
