Helen Baldwin


Funeral services for Helen Jo Baldwin are 10:30 A.M., Friday, August 8, 2014 at the Grove First Baptist Church with Pastor Jim Paslay officiating.

Interment will follow at 2:00 P.M. in the Nowata Memorial Park Cemetery.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Benjamin Funeral Service. Online condolences may be left at www.honoringmemories.com.

Helen Jo Baldwin, 82, passed away Tuesday, August 5, 2014 at St. John's Medical Center in Tulsa.

She was born January 24, 1932 in Nowata to Arthur and Anabel (Graves) Turner.

At an early age, Helen was baptized into the fellowship of the Nowata First Baptist Church.

She was a 1949 graduate of Nowata High School and soon after graduation, on June 30, 1949, she married Charles Yelton. They had three children together.

They farmed and ranched for many years and also had a successful insurance business and some oil leases.

Helen was a stay at home mom, taking her children to various activities including 4-H functions, school, and sports. They were married 37 years until his death in 1987.

Missions were always a big part of her life. She worked in every phase of the WMU in her local church and spent four years each as an associational Sunbeam and YWA Director and WMU President. 

Helen worked in the County Treasurer's office advancing to Executive First Deputy, a position she held for four years. She ran for two terms without opposition and drew an opponent for the third term but prevailed. She retired after working for 18 years.

Helen also taught Sunday school for over 40 years in the 13 – 17 year old age group. She was also the church financial secretary for 11 years.

She met her husband, Charlie Baldwin, while doing an open devotional for the adult department. They were married on May 14, 1993. They lived in Coffeyville, Kansas for two years and then moved to Grove. 

Helen is survived by three children, David Turner Yelton and his wife Lavah of St. Petersburg, FL., Marci Kay Postrach of Bartlesville, OK., Shari Ann Roebuck and her husband Melvin of Nowata, OK.;

four step-children, Charles Baldwin, Jr. of Bryan, TX., Bill Baldwin and his wife Karen of Delaware, OK., Karen Argo of Omaha, NE., Cheryl Dixon and her husband Jerry of Chattanooga, TN;

three grandchildren, Will Yelton and his wife Brandy of Tulsa, OK., Andrew Yelton of Roanoke, TX., Holly Nichols and her husband Mac of Dallas, TX.;

nine step – grandchildren, Scott Argo, Michelle Howell, Rachel Irwin, Jon Irwin, Tim Irwin, Charlie Baldwin, Billy Baldwin, Josh Baldwin, Caleb Baldwin;

two great grandchildren, Ella Kate and William Charles Nichols; seven step-great-grandchildren, Cael Howell, Cali Howell, Blake Irwin, Tinsley Irwin, Maddie Dixon, Avery Dixon, Faith Baldwin;

a brother, Stephen Arthur Turner of Aurora, TX; two sisters, Mary Ann (Nan) Glynn of Glen Allen, VA., Martha (Lee) McConnell of Fayetteville, AR., and many other relatives and a host of friends.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Arthur and Anabel Turner; her husbands Charlie Yelton and Charlie Baldwin.