Helen E. Byers, 92, formerly of Boonville, Indiana, died peacefully on Tuesday, April 11, 2023 in Greenwood, Indiana, after a long and fulfilled life.
Helen was born to Robert H. and Mayme G. Allen on April 30, 1930. Helen married Reathel E. (Rip) Byers in 1949 and shared 63 wonderful years together until his death in 2013. She was a life-long member of the Hemenway Memorial Presbyterian Church where she had been a
long-time Sunday School teacher and member of the choir. She was a charter member of Boonville Assembly #13 of Rainbow for Girls, a member of Boonville Order of Eastern Star, the Thorny Grove Extension Homemakers Club, and the Telephone Pioneers. After graduating from Boonville High School in 1947, and studying one year as a music major at Evansville College, Helen worked as a telephone operator with Indiana Bell Telephone in the Boonville office. After taking a break for a few years to raise their three young children, Helen returned to Indiana Bell, and retired from the Evansville office after thirty years of service. In their twilight
years, Rip and Helen left their Boonville home on Old Tennyson Road, across from Scales Lake, and moved to Greenwood to be closer to their children and grandchildren.
Helen is survived by daughters, Carol Byers of Vienna, Austria (husband Jan van der Brugge, and extended Vienna family, Lydia and children Nick and Lilly; Natanya and children Fiona and Allegra), Pamela Byers Siefers of Greenwood, and a son, Jeff Byers (Diane) of Greenwood. Also surviving are grandchildren Clint Byers Siefers (Victoria) of Greenwood, and Lydia Byers of Indianapolis, and two great-grandchildren, Ramona and Presley. Her brother, Bob Allen (Ann) of Boonville survives, as well as many nieces & nephews.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday, April 18 from 2:00 – 7:00 p.m. at Koehler Funeral Home Boonville Chapel, and one hour before the farewell service on Wednesday, April 19 at 11:00 a.m.. Rev. Dr. Rob Allen will officiate. Burial will follow at Maple Grove Cemetery in Boonville.
As a child, Helen grew up on First Street in Boonville and attended Ella Williams School. When the school became a museum in 1977, Helen became one of its first patrons. She was inspired to support the museum’s efforts to preserve the memories of her beloved hometown and county. Therefore, in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Warrick County Museum.
