Helen Kent (Dixon) Karns

Helen Kent (Dixon) Karns, 93, of Benton, died Thursday morning, March 7, 2013 a resident of Bonham Nursing & Rehabilitation Center. Born April 29, 1919 in Bloomsburg, she was a daughter of the late Charles Fred and Eva E. (Mendenhall) Dixon. Following the death of her parents, she was raised by her Aunt, Miss Helen John Mendenhall. In 1937, she graduated from the Benton Area High School. She continued to pursue her education from the former Bloomsburg State Teachers College in Elementary education, and graduated in 1941. On January 3, 1942, Helen Kent married her husband, the late Edward J. Karns, who passed on July 1, 1980. For many years, she was employed as an Elementary School Teacher for the Benton Area School District. During World War II, she also taught at the former Orangeville Academy. Following her retirement from teaching school in 1981, Helen Kent continued to teach piano lessons. She was a very active member of the Benton United Methodist Church, where she was a long time Sunday School Teacher, served on various committees, a member of the Church Choir and pianist and helped with church dinners. Helen Kent had also been active with the Girl Scouts and was a 4-H Leader many years ago. She was also a member of the Benton Readers Group and the Benton Sewing Club, the PEO Chapter AV and also the Ivy Club. Surviving is her daughter: Susan K. Thursby and husband, William J., Benton; four grandchildren: Edward W. Karns and wife, Suzanne, Copperas Cove, TX; Michele Hill and husband, Michael, Hoover, AL; Evan Thursby and fiancé, Kaitlyn Sanders, State College; and Adam Thursby and wife, Rachel, Malone, NY and by four great-grandchildren. In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded by a son, Edward Dixon Karns, late husband of Alice Anne Pritchard, on December 12, 1992. A Viewing will be held on Thursday, March 14, 2013 from 6 to 8 P.M. at the McMichael Funeral Home, Inc., 4394 Red Rock Road, Benton (Rt. 487). Private Graveside services will be held on Friday, March 15 in the Zion Cemetery, Fishing Creek Twp. with Pastor Matthew Verstraeten and Pastor James Kremer of the Benton United Methodist Church, officiating. Memorial contributions are suggested to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (jdrf.org) in honor of great-grandson, Tristan Thursby.

Helen Kent (Dixon) Karns

April 29, 1919 - March 7, 2013