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Funeral Services Set For Beloved Retired Educator Donald Helton
August 5, 2018
Funeral services were held Sunday for a beloved retried educator who lost his life while fishing Thursday on Escambia Bay.
Donald Ray Helton of Catonment fell overboard into the bay. He was 79.
Funeral services for Helton were held Sunday afternoon at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home in Atmore.
Helton was a retired seventh grade science teacher at Ransom Middle School. The 1962 University of Alabama graduate had passion for Alabama Crimson Tide football and fishing.
He was a native of Huxford, AL, a former resident of the Atmore area and had lived in Cantonment since 1965.
His survived by his wife of 57-years, Patsy Helton of Cantonment, son Michael and numerous relatives. For the complete obituary, click here.
Comments
6 Responses to “Funeral Services Set For Beloved Retired Educator Donald Helton”
OMG!!! This guy was amazing! One of the best…there will never be another! My middle school science teacher…I am so sadden
You can see from the below comments how loved Mr.Don Helton was by his students..I bring a different perspective..as a colleague at Ransom..he was always a team player and brought much wisdom couched in common sense when working on a committee…but what I loved most about him was his genuine love of learning and his big smile…know he is fishing in heaven
Mr .Helton,was a wonderful teacher and man. I had him at Molino high school, he took my friend Gail Tyler and I home with him and his wife. She let us make cookies and other things. I will always remember him, what a blessing he was. You will be missed.
Love this man! I had absolutely no interest in science until Mr. Helton‘s class, 7th gr. Ransom Middle School. It wasn’t just his ability to impart proof that science actually had a purpose and was necessary (which at the time I ignored and refused to admit because then I would have to learn about it) but he had the ability and the gift to find and introduce the magic and the fun in science. One thing I’ve never forgotten is when my science project failed in front of the whole class. My project did not simply fall apart, nor did it just not work right, it failed! Meaning it did the opposite of what it was supposed to do. I was near tears looking at Mr. Helton who was very slightly shaking his head no with a slight smile. He began to ask me questions which walked me and the class through how and why it failed and said it was a good example of how science could, in deed, fail. He made his way over as he was talking and he said something to the effect of OK future engineer, tell me how we’re going to adjust this to make it work. This was enough to let me know that he at least knew my project worked when I made it and I realize that obviously we could make it work again. He quietly said just slow down and think about it. I took a breath, studied it, and with some input from other classmates (he was thrilled with the group brainstorming lol) we made it work! I got an A!
Mr. Helton was a wonderful man and a brilliant teacher! He inspired a pursuit of knowledge across the board. He was loved and appreciated by countless and he will continue to influence and inspire through those who pass him on!
To family~ My prayers for comfort in this heart wrenching time, the ability to feel the contentment in where he is, and the acceptance, during this time, of joy he brought to those who knew and loved him.
PS No degree in Engineering…My degree is in teaching ♥️
So sorry for Mr. Helton and his family. Did he not know how to swim or just accidentally fell overboard? Poor fella and hope who he was with will be okay. Such a shock when an accidental drowning occurs
Sending my condolences to his loved ones and friends.
Mr Helton taught me 7th Grade Science at the old Ransom Middle School back in 1985. He was a great man. Over the years I would see him in the grocery stores. He always had time to speak and was a pleasure to visit with.