Barbara Helmer Hand

Barbara Helmer Hand died peacefully on December 4, 2011 in Winter Haven, FL after a short illness. She was 91.

She was born on April 1, 1920 in Orange, NJ the daughter of Arthur Currie Tucker and May Helmer. Barb moved to Clinton when she was 10 years old and graduated from Clinton High School. She attended the University of Vermont.

After her marriage in 1940 she lived in Frenchtown and worked at a porcelain factory making spark plugs during WWII. Barb moved to Union Township after the war. As a full time mother she was active in Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts and PTA. Later she was a third grade teacher at the Quakertown School and a substitute teacher at many northern Hunterdon County schools.

Barb was an active member of the Union Township Seniors’ Club and served as treasurer for many years. She was also a volunteer at the Norton Methodist Church thrift shop. She was a member of the Lake Wales Chapter DAR. Her interests included bird watching, gardening, reading and handicrafts. She always had a soft spot in her heart for wounded or orphan animals and nursed many critters back to health.

Barb was predeceased by her husband of 54 years, Frank H. Hand and her brother Arthur “Bill” Tucker. She is survived by her children Karen H. Wolzanski and her husband Frank of Indian Lake Estates, FL; Philip T. Hand of Roanoke, VA; and Dennis B. Hand and his wife Cheryl of Binghamton, NY; her grandchildren Nathan T. Hand and Zachary V.A. Hand.

Services will be private.

The family requests that donations in Barb’s memory be made to your local library or to Family House, 5301 Fifth Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15232.