Obituary of Helen Louise Chidester

Helen Louise Chidester, 90, of Bruceton Mills (Cherry Grove USA), WV, passed away Wednesday, April 1, 2020, at her home. The daughter of the late Joseph Franklin Schmidle and Jennie Alice McCrobie Schmidle, she was born June 27, 1929, in Albright, WV. Helen was a member of the Mountain Dale Church of the Brethren. A retired school teacher, she taught at Cherry Grove and Coalick one room schools and was the secretary and taught Physical Education at Albright grade school. She was the Mayor of Albright, secretary at Morgan’s Foodland, co-owner of Chidester’s Clover Mart in Markleysburg, PA, secretary at the Preston County Sheriff’s Office, a substitute mail carrier in the Bruceton area, and was a clerk at the Preston County Assessor’s office. Helen was a loving wife, mother and grandmother. A 1948 graduate of Kingwood High School, she enjoyed flying, motorcycle riding, gardening, mowing grass and hunting. The highlight of her 75th birthday was skydiving. Helen is survived by two sons: Kenneth W. Chidester, Jr. and his wife, Cheryl, of Bruceton Mills and Steve Chidester and his wife, Shirley, of Fairmont, WV; a daughter, Michela Livengood, and her companion, Maxwell Helmick, of Bruceton Mills; three sisters: Catherine Martin of Daytona Beach, FL, Joeann Omernick of Corvallis, OR and Martha Taylor of Terra Alta, WV; eleven grandchildren; and 29 great-grandchildren. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth W. Chidester, Sr.; a daughter, Penny Graham; two grandchildren, Scotty Graham and Bailey Livengood; and several, brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews. Due to the current CDC recommendations concerning the COVID-19 pandemic, a private graveside service will be held at the Centenary Cemetery with Rev. Vicki D. Sheppard officiating. A celebration of her life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to Amedisys Home Health Care, 5007 Mid Atlantic Drive, Morgantown, WV 26505. Carl R. Spear Funeral Home in Brandonville-Bruceton Mills will be assisting the family with funeral services. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.spearfuneralhome.net