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Helen

 Helen was the eldest Wadlow daughter. Fussy and fiery, she had her dad and Eugene's plucky personality. She enjoyed playing the viola and singing in the church choir. Later on, she was an active mother who always supported her family.

Stats:

Born: February 6th, 1920

Died: February 4th, 1989

Hair color: Blonde

Eye color: Blue

Middle name: Ione

Family: Clelle, Joseph, Thomas (husbands), Rebecca, Patricia, Barbara (daughters), Tom (son)

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Timeline

1920- Helen is born in Grafton
1926- Helen moves to Alton after living out west with her family
1930- Helen is one of many students picked for the shop window chorus, which raises money for the community piano fund
1931- Helen goes on a vacation to Atlanta, Georgia in July
1931- Helen is one of 200 strings students playing at a Congregational Church Christmas concert held by Elise Aehle

1933- Helen is a on a party committee for a Girl Reserves of East Junior High
1934- Helen helps Robert and Eugene run the summer soda stand
1934- Helen plays Dark Eyes at Elise Aehle Violin School's municipal concert held at Rock Spring Park
1935- Helen plays at the first Alton Symphony concert
1935- Helen sports bangs in the Alton High School yearbook
1936- Helen is one in a quartet of students who play at an Illinois State Teacher's Association meeting in East St. Louis
1936- Helen and two other girls represent Alton High's orchestra at a university concert
1936/37- Helen is a member of Alton High's camera club as well as a member of the yearbook committee
1936- Helen wins a place on the Alton High honor roll
1937- Helen graduates from Alton High in January
1938- Helen holds a Sunday School meeting at her house
1938- Helen plays the part of an angel in a dramatized hymn service
1938- Helen and Eugene are guests at a bridal shower at Main Street Methodist Church
1938- Helen plays the viola alongside three other students at the Shurtleff College Chapel
1938- Helen and Harold Jr. undergo tonsil removal operations
1939- Helen plays at the 5th annual Alton YWCA concert
1940- Helen and her remaining family go to a dinner held by Uncle Cecil in Nebraska
1940- Helen plays at the 3rd annual presentation of Handel's The Messiah (her final orchestra performance)
1941- Helen is one of the many people honored at a celebration welcoming new Alton citizens and 21 year olds at Shurtleff College
1941- Helen goes to Alton Memorial Hospital for treatment
1941- Helen has another tonsillectomy
1941- Helen arranges an outing at Camp Talahi with the YWCA
1942- Helen marries Clelle Upchurch on March 20th
1942- Helen and Clelle move into 2946 Hillcrest Avenue
1942- Helen goes to the hospital for a sinus treatment
1942- Helen's daughter, Rebecca Ann, is born on November 13th
1947- Helen's son, Thomas Alan, is born on August 25th
1948- Helen's family moves to 1246 West Ninth Street
1948- Helen's daughter, Barbara Ellen, is born on December 20th
1950- Helen is a morning kindergarten room mother
1952- Helen's daughter, Patricia Joan, is born
1953- Helen and Barbara undergo medical treatments
1955- Helen undergoes medical treatment near the end of the year
1956- Helen is the publicity chairman for the Irving School PTA

1956- Helen attends Patricia's Jessen Musical Kindergarten graduation
1956- Helen congratulates Rebecca for making the West Junior High honor roll (20 years after her honoring achievement!)
1956- Helen watches Tom's Christmas in Poland skit at Evangelical Church
1960- Helen attends Rebecca's graduation from Alton High

1960 or 61- Helen and Clelle move to Bridgeville, Pennsylvania
1961- Helen and Clelle spend the summer with Harold and Addie
1965- Helen is a secretary living in an apartment on Chatham Park Drive
1965- Helen marries Joseph Larimer on April 3rd in Winchester, Virginia
1969- Helen marries Thomas Wilson on November 28th in Covington, Virginia
1970- Helen and Thomas move to Pennsylvania
1972- Helen mourns the loss of Thomas on February 7th

Gallery

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