Nancy Marie Helman Stafford

September 21, 2023

Nancy Marie Helman Stafford died in Pensacola on Monday, September 18th at age 91. She was the beloved wife of Senior U.S. District Judge William H. Stafford, Jr. and proud mother of William III, Donald, and David.

The only daughter of Donald Emerson Helman and Florene Gift Helman, Nancy was born May 11, 1932, in the village of Marion in south central Pennsylvania. Her parents and three brothers – Crawford Eugene “Ben” Helman, James Edwin “Ed” Helman and Thomas Reed “Tom” Helman – all predeceased her. Nancy was educated in the public schools and graduated from Chambersburg High in 1950. After working for a year to earn money, she was awarded a Pennsylvania state scholarship and enrolled at Penn State, graduating in 1955 with a B.S. in Elementary Education.

Nancy, along with a girlfriend, then headed south to join two high school classmates working in Pensacola. Her first teaching job was at Jim Allen Elementary School in the Cantonment area of Pensacola. Her best friend eloped with a naval officer and persuaded Nancy to move with them to California, where they both found immediate employment. In 1958, she was introduced to Bill Stafford, a fellow officer and shipmate of her girlfriend’s husband. Not only were she and Bill both from Pennsylvania, but soon discovered they had the same birthday, one year apart! The romance continued coast-to-coast when Bill’s ship moved its home port to Norfolk, and were married on July 11, 1959, in her home church in Marion.

Nancy took a sabbatical from her teaching career to raise three sons. Although not in the classroom, she remained active in the community as a member of the Christ Church choir, and as an enthusiastic coach of “The Green Machine” girls softball team in Gulf Breeze.

Bill’s judicial appointment took the family to Tallahassee in 1976. The boys’ schooling and activities were a large part of Nancy’s life. When asked where she lived, her quick response was: “In a blue station wagon!” She also served on the vestry at St. John’s Church and sang in its choir, and was a long-standing member of the Newcomers Club, especially its bowling and bridge activities. Nancy became an enthusiastic Florida State fan, and was a member of the “Renegade Team,” helping to get the Seminole mascot on the field.

As the boys became more self-sufficient, Nancy returned to education, serving as Grants Administrator for the Florida Institute of Government. Nancy loved to travel on Bill’s judicial assignments; one of their earliest adventures took the family to the Panama Canal Zone while the Panama Canal treaty was being debated in the U.S. Senate. Their personal travels took them to many parts of the world; the British Isles, the European continent, Israel, Canada, and Alaska were highlights. Nancy visited all 50 states and never had a bad trip!

As the boys married, Nancy excitedly welcomed her daughters-in-law, and later grandchildren, into the Stafford family. Her eldest grandson began calling her “GIPPY” as he was learning to speak – a name that stuck and has since been adopted by family and friends. Gippy found her greatest joy as a grandmother to her six grandchildren.

She is survived by her devoted husband of 64 years, Bill; children Bill III (Andrea), Don (Jane) and David (Kim); grandchildren David, Jr., Charlie, Kate, Sarah Grace, William, and Nick. She also leaves behind numerous nieces, nephews, and other family members, as well as the many friends she made along the way.

Funeral services will be held at Christ Church in Pensacola at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, September 25, 2023. The family will host a reception in the parish hall following the service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Nancy’s memory to Christ Episcopal Church, 18 W. Wright Street, Pensacola, Florida, 32501.

Comments

Comments are closed.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under Obituaries