Helen G. Ebersole

Helen was born March 17, 1923, in Poland, Ohio, to Levi and Pauline (nee Gould) Good. Her childhood was happy, with older sister Jean and younger brother Paul. Their father farmed, drove and repaired school buses, and sold farm equipment. Helen remembered selling home grown strawberries to bring in cash during the Depression.

Both her parents had some higher education and learning was valued and encouraged. Even in her old age she could recite classic poems she learned as a child. Just two weeks before her death she recalled the opening lines of “What is so rare as a day in June?” She attended Juniata College in Pennsylvania where she obtained her Bachelor’s Degree. There she met Glen M. Ebersole, who became her husband and life companion.

They were married in 1945. Glen pursued medicine at Jefferson in Philadelphia while Helen taught in private schools to pay the bills. In 1951 they relocated to Detroit, where Glen was in residency, and where, in 1952, they welcomed their first child, David.

Glen opened a practice in General Medicine in Newcomerstown, Ohio, where 2nd son Mark and daughter Kate were born. Glen loved the human immediacy of being the local doctor, on call for all, at all times, but Helen, often alone with three small children, yearned for a community that offered more cultural and educational opportunities. So the growing family moved to Cleveland, Ohio, in 1957, where Glen took up the training in Radiology. 3rd son Daniel was born there.

Several more moves followed until they landed in Jamestown, New York, in 1963, where Glen entered a Radiology Partnership, and Helen took charge of a beautiful family home in Lakewood. Once Dan was in school Helen began her long career of community service.

She returned to study at SUNY Fredonia, achieving her Masters in History, and began writing a series of books on local history. Her thesis was her first book, “Electricity and Politics in Jamestown,” a fascinating study of a little city that successfully fought off large, predatory, outside power companies under Mayor Sam Carlson. She also wrote about the Chautauqua Lake hotels, the history of Lakewood and the Packard family, a study of Robert Jackson in his Jamestown years, and the saving of the gristmill in Busti, as well as many smaller newspaper and journal articles. Her most cherished book was “An ImPressive Record,” a history of the local newspaper, now the Post Journal, since 1825.

Helen served on the Board of the Southwestern Central Schools, including a stint as president, for many years. She put great efforts into the Fenton Historical Society, serving as its President and shepherding major improvements and new exhibits. She played as ConcertMaster in the Jamestown Community Orchestra. She played both violin and piano beautifully.

She became the Lakewood Village Historian, and led the fund drive to improve and expand the Lakewood Memorial Library. For this effort the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation awarded Helen their John D. Hamilton Community Service Award in 2009.

While life was full and good for Glen, Helen and their family, they faced tragedy in 1974 as youngest son Dan was taken from them and killed. They weathered this harrowing time with great dignity and integrity, becoming a beacon for many in the strength they shared and showed.

Glen and Helen were ever curious about the world, taking the family on many memorable trips around the country. After Glen’s retirement in 1988 they continued their many, far-flung jaunts. Glen passed away in 2008 and Helen lived alone, happily pursuing her history projects and writings. Her home, as it had been with Glen, continued to be the focus of large, happy family gatherings throughout the year, right up to the Sunday before her passing there at home. Older son David preceded her in death by just a month, passing quite unexpectedly on May 19.

She is survived by 2nd son Mark, his wife Maria, their children Katie and Jane, and by her daughter Kate, as well as many loving nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held later this summer.

Donations in her name may be made to the Fenton Historical Society, 67 Washington Street, Jamestown, NY 14701 or the Lakewood Memorial Library, 12 W Summit Street, Lakewood, NY 14750.

You may leave words of condolence at www. lindfuneralhome.com.