Edward Helm

May 4, 1923 - February 27, 2014

Edward J. Helm, 90, of Vandalia passed away at 7:49pm, Thursday, February 27 at his home in Vandalia. A short service will be held at 1:00pm, Monday, March 3, 2014 at Hohlt & File Funeral Home in Vandalia; friends and family may gather at the funeral home from noon until time of service on Monday.  A private family burial will follow the service. Memorials may be made to the donor's choice. Edward Helm was born May 4, 1923 in Loogootee, IL the son of Edd and Elzie (Pruett) Helm. He graduated from Brownstown High School and attended Sparks Business College in Shelbyville, IL.  During World War II, Ed was enlisted in the US Army Air Corps, where he was stationed in the Mariana Islands and flew B29 Bombers during missions over Japan. Ed had an honorable discharge as a First Lieutenant in January of 1946.  He then married Doris M. Isbell on September 7, 1947 at a ceremony held at her home in Vandalia; he worked as an accountant for Exxon before retiring and moving back to Vandalia.  Once back home he needed to stay active so he took the job as manager of County Place Apartments and worked there for 10 years.  Ed and Doris are well known for their Christmas Décor and Displays, and were featured in our local paper several times.  In his free time, Ed was a self taught builder and enjoyed refinishing furniture and helping neighbors and friends, he also just loved outdoors and spending time in his yard. Ed leaves behind his wife of 66 years, Doris of Vandalia; daughter Jan and husband Pete of Marshall, IL; grandson Chris Savage and wife Kim of Covington, GA; great granddaughters Caroline and Kinley Savage of Covington, GA; and his sister Genelle and husband Dick Metz of Minnetonka, MN. He was preceded in death by his parents.