Obituaries

Helen St. Martin

Photo of Helen St. Martin
Helen Marguerite St. Martin walked alone into heaven but was met by her husband, Don, her daughter Lynda, her parents and siblings. She passed away on Dec. 28 in Bentonville, Ark. Helen Marguerite St. Martin was born Jan. 18, 1925, in Baird, Texas to John F. and Mary E. McClendon. After graduation from Baird High School, she attended nursing school at Shannon Hospital in San Angelo, Texas where she obtained her R.N. Prior to and during her schooling she worked in a hospital in Abilene, Texas. It was while working in Abilene that she met then Capt. Donald A. St. Martin, who was stationed at Roswell Air Force Base, N.M. After the completion of her nursing studies, she joined the U.S. Air Force as an RN stationed in New York. She and Don married in 1956. Helen completed her service in the Air Force as Don was transferred to Little Rock AFB Jacksonville, Ark., and they began their family. While living in Jacksonville, she was active in her church, the Alter and Rosary Society, the Officer Wives Association, and nursing. Helen worked as a Pulaski County Health Department nurse and at UAMS in Little Rock. After Don's death in 1983, Helen and Susan moved to Oklahoma City, Missouri and Arkansas to be near each of her children. She was preceded in death by her husband Maj. Donald A. St Martin, USAF Ret., parents John and Mary McClendon, daughter Lynda Catherine Eisert, sister Lyndall Andrews, and brother Hansel McClendon. She is survived by her children, Elizabeth Long and husband Jim, Lt. Col. USAF Ret. and their children 1st Lt. Rachel Long, USAF and Lt. Sarah Long Sparks, USN and husband Capt. James Sparks, USMC; son Donald A. St. Martin Jr. and his children, Donald and wife AnnMarie; Timothy and wife Melissa; son-in-law Randy Eisert and daughter Susan. She is also survived by grandchildren Jennifer Jeffries-Wright and children Patrick and Jamie; Michelle Jeffries-Wood and children Abigail and Gabriel. She leaves behind to remember their long talks and remembrances her sister, Frankie McClendon Baulch and children, Polly Salyards, Janice Baulch and Byron Baulch. A celebration of Helen's life will be held at 11:30 a.m., Monday, Jan. 2, 2011 in the chapel of Griffin Leggett-Rest Hills Funeral Home, 7724 Landers Road, North Little Rock 501-835-3515, with Deacon James Long officiating. The family will receive friends from 6 until 8 p.m., Sunday at the funeral home, with a rosary service beginning at 6. The online obituary, guestbook, and memorial tribute are available at www.griffinleggettresthills.com.

Published January 1, 2012

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