Carlton Harold Hellems Sr., 86, died Monday, November 12, 2007 at Cedar Hill Care Center. He was born July 14, 1921, in Buffalo, New York, to the late Harold P. and Julianna Haefner Hellems. He was a retired electrical engineer from the Aerospace Guidance and Metrology Center in Newark, Ohio. He was a graduate of Buffalo Technical High School and the University of Buffalo. He entered into civilian pilot training in 1941. In 1942, he began teaching advanced flying at Purdue University in Lafayette, Indiana. He entered the Air Force as an aviation cadet in 1944. In 1946, he was assigned to Aberdeen Proving Grounds as a bomber test pilot and in 1947, the Army sent him to Alaska where he flew C-54's with a troop transport group. He worked for Sylvania Electric in development of the colored television; Bell Aircraft as a Senior Design Engineer; Stromberg Carlson of General Dynamics serving as a member of a military design group and RCA as a senior member of a technical staff. He did engineering work on special reconnaissance systems at Wright Patterson in Dayton, Ohio and up until his retirement, he worked for AGMC, concentrating on inertial guidance systems. He felt very fortunate to have worked on a variety of products throughout his engineering career. He also served as national secretary of IEEE. He was a member of Central Presbyterian Church where he served as a deacon and elder. Carlton was a man of many talents and interests, which included, flying, jogging, swimming, bicycling and racquetball. He was a fierce competitor who hated to lose.

He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Cecilia Marie Scopelliti Hellems; children, Margaret Hellems-May of Roselle, Illinois, Carlton H. (Sue) Hellems Jr. of Helena, Montana, Charmaine (Michael) Ryan of Zanesville, Camellia (Robert) Matters of Hilliard, Ohio, Mary (Michael) Hayden of Pickerington, Ohio and John (Debi) Hellems of Philo, Ohio; eight grandchildren, Nicole (John) Sheaffer, Lindsay (Randy) Dings, Felicia Hellems, Natalia Hellems, Valerie Hayden, Jessica Hayden, Heather Hellems and Ian Hellems; six great grandchildren, Ryan, Jamie, Noah, John Jr., Scarlett and Charmaine and a sister, Ethel Hafner of Fulton, New York.

Friends may call 2-4 & 6-8 p.m. Thursday, November 15, 2007 at the Bolin-Dierkes Funeral Home, 1271 Blue Ave., Zanesville. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, November 16, 2007 at the funeral home with Rev. Ray C. Morrison Jr. officiating. Burial will follow at Irville Cemetery. VFW George Selsam Post 1058 will hold full military rites at the cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Central Presbyterian Church, 40 N 6th St., Zanesville, Ohio, 43701 or to Cedar Hill Care Center, 1136 Adair Avenue, Zanesville, Ohio, 43701.

The family wishes to thank all the care givers at Good Samaritan Hospital and his "second " family at Cedar Hill Care Center.