Ruth Helsabeck

Mrs. Ruth Haigler Helsabeck died peacefully on New Year’s morning in Vienna Village at the age of 98. Ruth was born to parents, James Lewis Haigler and Annie Mae Gant Haigler in Swansea, SC, on March 11, 1920. She is survived by her children, Dr. James Helsabeck (Linda), Mr. Charles Helsabeck (Caroline), Dr. Eric Helsabeck (Judy) and Ms. Annette Helsabeck, as well as her six grandchildren, Nathan, Spencer, Amanda, Julie, Keith and Graham and five great-grandchildren, Lilly, Fischer, Greyson, Logan and Evelyn. She was preceded in death by her husband of 71 years, Dr. Charles Robert Helsabeck, Jr. and siblings, Edward, James, Mary Lou and Sara Mae. Ruth was a beloved member of the Rural Hall community. She sang in the choir and played the organ at Rural Hall Church of Christ, where she dedicated countless hours of service. In her youth, Ruth was a student-athlete at Newberry College, where she played competitive basketball in the 1930’s. Ruth enjoyed cooking in the deep-south style she learned in Swansea. Her dishes were so legendary that a cookbook with many of her recipes was produced and shared with family and friends. Ruth Spoke fondly about her childhood, where she and her family and friends rode through the streets of Swansea pulling their wagon while playing cylinder records on the phonograph. Miss Annie Mae, her mom, ran a boarding house for teachers, after the death of her husband. Ruth was shaped by this loving, small town upbringing and missed home when she went off to college. After graduating from Newberry, she went to Rural Hall, where she taught in the local elementary school. She married Robert and started a family shortly thereafter. Ruth Helsabeck will be remembered for her pure heart and generous spirit. Many schools, especially her alma mater and other institutions of higher learning, continue to benefit from a variety of endowments and scholarships that she and her husband established to give folks a hand. Ruth’s family will always remember her with much love. The stories that demonstrate her goodness are numerous and even though told over and over, they still make us laugh and want to hear them yet again. From playing cards and games, to walks to the spring in the mountains near Fancy Gap and meals around her table, she showed us all what love is. A Celebration of Ruth’s Life will be conducted 11:00 a.m. Saturday, January 5, 2019 at Hayworth-Miller Chapel in Rural Hall with Peter Cain, Minister officiating. The family will receive friends from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Friday evening at Hayworth-Miller Funeral Home in Rural Hall. Donations may be made to: Newberry College, 2100 College Street, Newberry, SC 29108 or the charity of your choice. The family would like to thank Vienna Village for the excellent care they took of Ruth. Online condolences may be made at www.hayorth-miller.com. (Hayworth-Miller Rural Hall Chapel)