SPENCER

Helms, Bob G., 86, civil engineer, died Aug. 13. Services 10 a.m. Thursday (Bill Eisenhour NE, Oklahoma City).

Published in The Oklahoman, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Wednesday, August 16, 2017, Page 6A.

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Bobby Gene "Bob" Helms passed away on August 13, 2017, leaving behind son Mike and daughter-in-law Sara; daughter, Sharon Siweckyj; granddaughter, Alison and husband Nick Rackley; grandson, Chris Carlson; sister-in-law Thelma and brother-in-law Clary Spencer; sister-in-law, Janis Galloway; nephew, and niece Chris and Loretta Helms; and a host of extended family and friends. He is preceded in death by his wife Ada; parents; siblings; and granddaughter Amy Helms. After marrying his high school sweetheart and whisking Ada off on his motorcycle, Bob proudly served in the US Army during the Korean conflict. He started his family in Spencer, Oklahoma, and his career as a civil engineer at Tinker AFB. He was actively involved in Sharon and Mike's lives not only as they grew, but all throughout their lives. Bob was a model father. He coached little league, attended school plays, took his children camping, lead expeditions into abandoned gold mines, taught his children how to shoot bottles rockets across the street, and to water ski. Bob was also very proud of his garden and yard, always keeping it meticulous. He loved sharing his garden bounty with friends and co-workers. In 1965, he joined the Masonic Lodge #541 in Nicoma Park, where he quickly became a 32nd Degree Mason. Just this year, the Lodge presented Bob with his 50-year pin, which was a rare honor. He and Ada spent many years actively involved with DeMolay and Jobs Daughters, mentoring many youth and making lifelong friends along the way. A very big part of his life was being "Dad Helms." It is a well-known fact that Bob loved his family, friends, and the outdoors. Bob always had time or made time for them. Neighbors knew they could always count on him to lend a hand to fix a car, get the lights back on, engineer a snow sled out of a ladder, design and build a boat dock, build a house, take you hunting, or grill you a steak on his hasty bake grill. Everyone was always welcome at the Helms'. It is hard to talk about Bob's life without including Ada, his wife of 63 years. They were inseparable and love birds until her death in 2012. This past Tuesday would have been their 67th anniversary. Bob especially enjoyed life at the lake. He would spend most summer weekends boating, fishing, or teaching most of Oklahoma how to water ski, sporting a jaunty fishing hat and a cigar while on a slalom ski. In the winter, it would be tinkering with the boat, and off to deer camp with Ada, Mike, Sara and friends. Many a great evening was spent around the campfire and sharing a meal. After retiring from Tinker, Bob and Ada moved permanently to Lake Eufaula, living next door to his daughter and grandchildren, much to their delight. There were many fun times with Bob driving the boat out to the "cut", where he would pull the kids on inner tubes and play in the water all day. Friends from the City knew they could count on Bob to have the air conditioner running, propane topped off, and ready to have a cold beer with them when they arrived at Patillos Park.

Funeral services will be at Eisenhour Funeral Home on NE 23rd at 10 a.m., Thursday with interment to follow at Arlington Memorial Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, we ask that you consider a donation to www.alz.org. It would be a great legacy to Bob to offer a glimmer of hope to others to stop this hideous disease. That would make Dad smile.

Arrangements under the direction of Bill Eisenhour NE Funeral Home, Oklahoma City, OK.