Obituaries

Helen Faye (Pate) Firth, 77, of Newport News, VA, passed away peacefully at home on Sunday, October 19, surrounded by family. A lifelong resident of the Virginia Peninsula, Helen was born in Clayton, NC.

Helen was a 1968 graduate of Denbigh High School and worked in retail sales for several years. She was a school bus driver for Orcutt Baptist School in Newport News, VA, for 17 years, and was much loved by her students.

In 1999, Helen completed an accounting certificate at East Coast Polytechnic Institute (ECPI). She worked in the price and invoice departments of Noland Plumbing Supply in Newport News, from which she retired in 2006 after seven years.

Helen had many talents and interests, which she shared with others. She was a member of Chestnut Memorial United Methodist Church in Newport News for 40 years, where she prepared the sanctuary for services and managed the Angel Tree program. Helen was a longstanding member of the Square Edges Square and Round Dance Club, where she held numerous officer positions. She was an expert in the fiber arts, and her friends and family benefited from many gifts of quilts, afghans, and other items. Helen was also an avid genealogy researcher for her family.

Helen is survived by her daughter, Heather Fleming (Dean) of Newport News, VA; son, Aaron Firth (Tanya) of Seaford, VA; and brother, Robert Pate (Barbara) of Louisa, VA. She was preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, Gilbert S. Firth, Jr.; brother Ervin Pate (Virginia) of Flint, MI; brother Frederick Pate (Josellen) of Goldsboro, NC; sister Christine Skinner (Donald) of Hampton, VA; brother Jeff Pate (Starr) of Topping, VA; Jackie Pate of Richmond, VA; and parents Provet Linley and Sallie Pate of Goldsboro, NC.

Family and friends are invited to attend the visitation on October 22, 5:30-7:00 p.m., at Peninsula Funeral Home and Crematory, 11144 Warwick Blvd., Newport News. A reception will be held on Thursday, October 23rd at noon, followed by the funeral service at 1:30 p.m. at Chestnut Memorial United Methodist Church, 1024 Harpersville Rd., Newport News. Interment will follow at Peninsula Memorial Park in Newport News.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Helen’s memory may be made to Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters in Norfolk, VA or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, TN.