Helen
Helen Watts Tinsley
Helen Wentworth Watts Ford Tinsley, 93, passed away on Monday, November 4, 2013. For 47 years she was the wife of the late Kiah Thornton Ford, Jr. After his death, she was the wife of Dr. William Carter Tinsley for 8 years.
Born February 8, 1920, she was the daughter of Alene Armistead and Charles Marion Watts. In addition to her parents, Helen was preceded in death by her siblings: Maria Watts, Jean Watts Sydnor, and Charles Marion Watts, Jr.
Helen was born and raised in Lynchburg, VA, graduated from E. C. Glass High School and received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Longwood College where she was a member of Alpha Sigma Tau Sorority. She was very proud of her long and rewarding career as an elementary school teacher in the Lynchburg City Public Schools, most of which was spent at Fort Hill Elementary School. Helen was a lifelong member of Court Street United Methodist Church.
Helen is survived by her son Dr. Kiah Thornton Ford, III and his wife, Jean of Lynchburg, her son Dr. Charles Watts Ford and his wife, Pat of Surfside Beach, SC, and her daughter, Helen A. Ford, of Lynchburg. She is survived by six grandchildren: Kiah Thornton \"Chip\" Ford and his wife, Erin of Charlotte, NC. Ian Michael Ford and his wife, Alison, of Raleigh, NC, Laurie Allison Ford and her husband, Tim Mawyer of Wilmington, NC, Karey Ford Garrison and her husband, Rev. David Garrison, of St. Louis, MO, William Mason \"Billy\" Fortune, Jr. of Roanoke, and Cory Ford Graves and his wife, Martha \"M\", of Culpeper, VA. Helen is also survived by five great-grandchildren: Tyler, Hayden and Ashley Ford, and Peter and Meg Garrison. She is also survived by two stepdaughters: Nancy Tinsley Wilson of Midlothian, VA, and Billie Tinsley Bryant and her husband, Dr. Steve Bryant, of Goode.
A graveside service will be held at 2:00 pm on Wednesday, November 6, 2013 in Spring Hill Cemetery with Dr. Edwin Clever officiating.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made, and will be greatly appreciated, to Court Street United Methodist Church as a general donation, or to the music fund at Court Street United Methodist Church.
Tharp Funeral Home and Crematory, Lynchburg (434-237-9424) is assisting the family.
Born February 8, 1920, she was the daughter of Alene Armistead and Charles Marion Watts. In addition to her parents, Helen was preceded in death by her siblings: Maria Watts, Jean Watts Sydnor, and Charles Marion Watts, Jr.
Helen was born and raised in Lynchburg, VA, graduated from E. C. Glass High School and received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Longwood College where she was a member of Alpha Sigma Tau Sorority. She was very proud of her long and rewarding career as an elementary school teacher in the Lynchburg City Public Schools, most of which was spent at Fort Hill Elementary School. Helen was a lifelong member of Court Street United Methodist Church.
Helen is survived by her son Dr. Kiah Thornton Ford, III and his wife, Jean of Lynchburg, her son Dr. Charles Watts Ford and his wife, Pat of Surfside Beach, SC, and her daughter, Helen A. Ford, of Lynchburg. She is survived by six grandchildren: Kiah Thornton \"Chip\" Ford and his wife, Erin of Charlotte, NC. Ian Michael Ford and his wife, Alison, of Raleigh, NC, Laurie Allison Ford and her husband, Tim Mawyer of Wilmington, NC, Karey Ford Garrison and her husband, Rev. David Garrison, of St. Louis, MO, William Mason \"Billy\" Fortune, Jr. of Roanoke, and Cory Ford Graves and his wife, Martha \"M\", of Culpeper, VA. Helen is also survived by five great-grandchildren: Tyler, Hayden and Ashley Ford, and Peter and Meg Garrison. She is also survived by two stepdaughters: Nancy Tinsley Wilson of Midlothian, VA, and Billie Tinsley Bryant and her husband, Dr. Steve Bryant, of Goode.
A graveside service will be held at 2:00 pm on Wednesday, November 6, 2013 in Spring Hill Cemetery with Dr. Edwin Clever officiating.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made, and will be greatly appreciated, to Court Street United Methodist Church as a general donation, or to the music fund at Court Street United Methodist Church.
Tharp Funeral Home and Crematory, Lynchburg (434-237-9424) is assisting the family.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Helen Watts Tinsley, please visit our flower store.
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