Helen was born Helen Flodean Hamm in Dover, Tennessee on April 13, 1935 to Mattie Millicent (Epps) Hamm and Pete Benjamin Hamm. She was the baby of eight siblings: Frank Hamm, Earl Hall, George Ernest Hamm, Alene Hamm Hassett, Gladys Hamm Wallace, Eula Hamm Davis, and Catherine (Kitty) Hamm Czwornog. She was predeceased by her parents and was the last surviving sibling.
Her family moved to Granite City, Il when she was seven and she graduated from Granite City High School in 1953. She was an excellent student and worked at Woolworth’s during high school as well as helping a lot at home. It was not uncommon for her to get up at 4:00 am and bake a cake, fix her father a hot breakfast, and pack his lunch before getting ready for school in the morning. Directly after high school, she worked as a secretary at several companies, including A.O. Smith and Granite City Steel.
She met the love of her life, Robert (Bob) Dennis Burns in 1957, while he was stationed at Scott AFB in Illinois. They married in Soap Lake, Washington and their son, Robert Dennis Burns, Jr. was born in 1958. They were later stationed in Oklahoma and Helen spent time with her family in Illinois while Bob was TDY in New Jersey. After Bob completed his four years in the Air Force, they moved to Simi Valley, CA, where their daughter Jamie Sue was born in 1962.
Helen and Bob moved to Lompoc, CA in 1965, where Bob continued working for ITT/FEC and Helen began work as an administrative assistant for the Aerospace Corporation on Vandenberg Air Force Base. At work, she was known to be very efficient and organized. She was the unofficial historian of the company. Helen always remembered any important details or knew exactly where to find them. Helen had offers to take a promotion at Aerospace and move to El Segundo, but she preferred to stay in the small town of Lompoc. When she retired in 1996, she was working for one of the top executives at Aerospace at Vandenberg.
After retiring, Helen and Bob finally had time to take some extended trips, mostly to the Midwest and the south to visit friends and family. She loved shopping with her sisters and nieces, as well as cooking with family and just being anywhere surrounded by loved ones. She always stayed close to her family even though she loved far away.
Helen was a devoted grandmother, and was like a second mom to her daughter’s children, Rhiannon Nicole Manzo Burns and Dennis Cole Burns. They called her Nana, and there was nothing that she would not have done for them.
Helen was a very generous person and was loved by all that knew her. She was witty and very special and always fun to be around. She loved to cook and bake and always made cakes for her colleagues at work for their birthdays.
Helen and Bob went everywhere together and loved spending time together at Endless Summer, The Willows, La Botte, and the Whistle Stop. Despite suffering from migraines, heart issues, injuries from falls, enduring numerous surgeries, including multiple back surgeries, Helen always kept positive and moved forward enjoying life.
Helen died peacefully on Tuesday, November 29 at the Lompoc Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. She was surrounded by her close family and friends. The family would like to thank the center for the loving care they provided for Helen.
She was predeceased by her son, Robert Dennis Burns, Jr. which broke her heart. May she find comfort in being with him as well as her parents, brothers and sisters. She is survived by her husband Bob, daughter Jamie, granddaughter Rhiannon, grandson Dennis, brother-in-law Lee Davis, sister-in-law Beth Burns, as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins.
For anyone wishing to make a donation in lieu of flowers, here are several causes Helen believed in: Helen suffered from dementia late in life. A donation to the Alzheimer’s Association would help fund research and support programs and services for Alzheimer and dementia patients. She was an avid reader and had hoped to someday record books for the blind. The Braille Institute of Santa Barbara has volunteer opportunities and would appreciate monetary donations as well as audible books. Helen had an arrhythmia due to a defective heart valve. The American Heart Association is a good cause to support. Finally, she loved music, and loved supporting her grandson Dennis in his musical endeavors. A donation to the Cabrillo (High School) Instrumental Music Foundation (CIMF) at 1305 North H Street A-350, Lompoc, CA 93436 would be very appreciated.
Services will be held at Starbuck-Lind Mortuary at 123 North A St. in Lompoc on Monday December 5, at 2pm, with a short graveside ceremony to follow at Lompoc Cemetery.
Please join family for a potluck and celebration of life afterward at the Whistle Stop, located at 805 W. Laurel Avenue.
Her family moved to Granite City, Il when she was seven and she graduated from Granite City High School in 1953. She was an excellent student and worked at Woolworth’s during high school as well as helping a lot at home. It was not uncommon for her to get up at 4:00 am and bake a cake, fix her father a hot breakfast, and pack his lunch before getting ready for school in the morning. Directly after high school, she worked as a secretary at several companies, including A.O. Smith and Granite City Steel.
She met the love of her life, Robert (Bob) Dennis Burns in 1957, while he was stationed at Scott AFB in Illinois. They married in Soap Lake, Washington and their son, Robert Dennis Burns, Jr. was born in 1958. They were later stationed in Oklahoma and Helen spent time with her family in Illinois while Bob was TDY in New Jersey. After Bob completed his four years in the Air Force, they moved to Simi Valley, CA, where their daughter Jamie Sue was born in 1962.
Helen and Bob moved to Lompoc, CA in 1965, where Bob continued working for ITT/FEC and Helen began work as an administrative assistant for the Aerospace Corporation on Vandenberg Air Force Base. At work, she was known to be very efficient and organized. She was the unofficial historian of the company. Helen always remembered any important details or knew exactly where to find them. Helen had offers to take a promotion at Aerospace and move to El Segundo, but she preferred to stay in the small town of Lompoc. When she retired in 1996, she was working for one of the top executives at Aerospace at Vandenberg.
After retiring, Helen and Bob finally had time to take some extended trips, mostly to the Midwest and the south to visit friends and family. She loved shopping with her sisters and nieces, as well as cooking with family and just being anywhere surrounded by loved ones. She always stayed close to her family even though she loved far away.
Helen was a devoted grandmother, and was like a second mom to her daughter’s children, Rhiannon Nicole Manzo Burns and Dennis Cole Burns. They called her Nana, and there was nothing that she would not have done for them.
Helen was a very generous person and was loved by all that knew her. She was witty and very special and always fun to be around. She loved to cook and bake and always made cakes for her colleagues at work for their birthdays.
Helen and Bob went everywhere together and loved spending time together at Endless Summer, The Willows, La Botte, and the Whistle Stop. Despite suffering from migraines, heart issues, injuries from falls, enduring numerous surgeries, including multiple back surgeries, Helen always kept positive and moved forward enjoying life.
Helen died peacefully on Tuesday, November 29 at the Lompoc Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. She was surrounded by her close family and friends. The family would like to thank the center for the loving care they provided for Helen.
She was predeceased by her son, Robert Dennis Burns, Jr. which broke her heart. May she find comfort in being with him as well as her parents, brothers and sisters. She is survived by her husband Bob, daughter Jamie, granddaughter Rhiannon, grandson Dennis, brother-in-law Lee Davis, sister-in-law Beth Burns, as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins.
For anyone wishing to make a donation in lieu of flowers, here are several causes Helen believed in: Helen suffered from dementia late in life. A donation to the Alzheimer’s Association would help fund research and support programs and services for Alzheimer and dementia patients. She was an avid reader and had hoped to someday record books for the blind. The Braille Institute of Santa Barbara has volunteer opportunities and would appreciate monetary donations as well as audible books. Helen had an arrhythmia due to a defective heart valve. The American Heart Association is a good cause to support. Finally, she loved music, and loved supporting her grandson Dennis in his musical endeavors. A donation to the Cabrillo (High School) Instrumental Music Foundation (CIMF) at 1305 North H Street A-350, Lompoc, CA 93436 would be very appreciated.
Services will be held at Starbuck-Lind Mortuary at 123 North A St. in Lompoc on Monday December 5, at 2pm, with a short graveside ceremony to follow at Lompoc Cemetery.
Please join family for a potluck and celebration of life afterward at the Whistle Stop, located at 805 W. Laurel Avenue.
Helen was born Helen Flodean Hamm in Dover, Tennessee on April 13, 1935 to Mattie Millicent (Epps) Hamm and Pete Benjamin Hamm. She was the baby of eight siblings: Frank Hamm, Earl Hall, George Ernest Hamm, Alene Hamm Hassett, Gladys Hamm Wallace, Eula Hamm Davis, and Catherine (Kitty) Hamm Czwornog. She was predeceased by her parents and was the last surviving sibling.
Her family moved to Granite City, Il when she was seven and she graduated from Granite City High School in 1953. She was an excellent student and worked at Woolworth’s during high school as well as helping a lot at home. It was not uncommon for her to get up at 4:00 am and bake a cake, fix her father a hot breakfast, and pack his lunch before getting ready for school in the morning. Directly after high school, she worked as a secretary at several companies, including A.O. Smith and Granite City Steel.
She met the love of her life, Robert (Bob) Dennis Burns in 1957, while he was stationed at Scott AFB in Illinois. They married in Soap Lake, Washington and their son, Robert Dennis Burns, Jr. was born in 1958. They were later stationed in Oklahoma and Helen spent time with her family in Illinois while Bob was TDY in New Jersey. After Bob completed his four years in the Air Force, they moved to Simi Valley, CA, where their daughter Jamie Sue was born in 1962.
Helen and Bob moved to Lompoc, CA in 1965, where Bob continued working for ITT/FEC and Helen began work as an administrative assistant for the Aerospace Corporation on Vandenberg Air Force Base. At work, she was known to be very efficient and organized. She was the unofficial historian of the company. Helen always remembered any important details or knew exactly where to find them. Helen had offers to take a promotion at Aerospace and move to El Segundo, but she preferred to stay in the small town of Lompoc. When she retired in 1996, she was working for one of the top executives at Aerospace at Vandenberg.
After retiring, Helen and Bob finally had time to take some extended trips, mostly to the Midwest and the south to visit friends and family. She loved shopping with her sisters and nieces, as well as cooking with family and just being anywhere surrounded by loved ones. She always stayed close to her family even though she loved far away.
Helen was a devoted grandmother, and was like a second mom to her daughter’s children, Rhiannon Nicole Manzo Burns and Dennis Cole Burns. They called her Nana, and there was nothing that she would not have done for them.
Helen was a very generous person and was loved by all that knew her. She was witty and very special and always fun to be around. She loved to cook and bake and always made cakes for her colleagues at work for their birthdays.
Helen and Bob went everywhere together and loved spending time together at Endless Summer, The Willows, La Botte, and the Whistle Stop. Despite suffering from migraines, heart issues, injuries from falls, enduring numerous surgeries, including multiple back surgeries, Helen always kept positive and moved forward enjoying life.
Helen died peacefully on Tuesday, November 29 at the Lompoc Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. She was surrounded by her close family and friends. The family would like to thank the center for the loving care they provided for Helen.
She was predeceased by her son, Robert Dennis Burns, Jr. which broke her heart. May she find comfort in being with him as well as her parents, brothers and sisters. She is survived by her husband Bob, daughter Jamie, granddaughter Rhiannon, grandson Dennis, brother-in-law Lee Davis, sister-in-law Beth Burns, as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins.
For anyone wishing to make a donation in lieu of flowers, here are several causes Helen believed in: Helen suffered from dementia late in life. A donation to the Alzheimer’s Association would help fund research and support programs and services for Alzheimer and dementia patients. She was an avid reader and had hoped to someday record books for the blind. The Braille Institute of Santa Barbara has volunteer opportunities and would appreciate monetary donations as well as audible books. Helen had an arrhythmia due to a defective heart valve. The American Heart Association is a good cause to support. Finally, she loved music, and loved supporting her grandson Dennis in his musical endeavors. A donation to the Cabrillo (High School) Instrumental Music Foundation (CIMF) at 1305 North H Street A-350, Lompoc, CA 93436 would be very appreciated.
Services will be held at Starbuck-Lind Mortuary at 123 North A St. in Lompoc on Monday December 5, at 2pm, with a short graveside ceremony to follow at Lompoc Cemetery.
Please join family for a potluck and celebration of life afterward at the Whistle Stop, located at 805 W. Laurel Avenue.
Her family moved to Granite City, Il when she was seven and she graduated from Granite City High School in 1953. She was an excellent student and worked at Woolworth’s during high school as well as helping a lot at home. It was not uncommon for her to get up at 4:00 am and bake a cake, fix her father a hot breakfast, and pack his lunch before getting ready for school in the morning. Directly after high school, she worked as a secretary at several companies, including A.O. Smith and Granite City Steel.
She met the love of her life, Robert (Bob) Dennis Burns in 1957, while he was stationed at Scott AFB in Illinois. They married in Soap Lake, Washington and their son, Robert Dennis Burns, Jr. was born in 1958. They were later stationed in Oklahoma and Helen spent time with her family in Illinois while Bob was TDY in New Jersey. After Bob completed his four years in the Air Force, they moved to Simi Valley, CA, where their daughter Jamie Sue was born in 1962.
Helen and Bob moved to Lompoc, CA in 1965, where Bob continued working for ITT/FEC and Helen began work as an administrative assistant for the Aerospace Corporation on Vandenberg Air Force Base. At work, she was known to be very efficient and organized. She was the unofficial historian of the company. Helen always remembered any important details or knew exactly where to find them. Helen had offers to take a promotion at Aerospace and move to El Segundo, but she preferred to stay in the small town of Lompoc. When she retired in 1996, she was working for one of the top executives at Aerospace at Vandenberg.
After retiring, Helen and Bob finally had time to take some extended trips, mostly to the Midwest and the south to visit friends and family. She loved shopping with her sisters and nieces, as well as cooking with family and just being anywhere surrounded by loved ones. She always stayed close to her family even though she loved far away.
Helen was a devoted grandmother, and was like a second mom to her daughter’s children, Rhiannon Nicole Manzo Burns and Dennis Cole Burns. They called her Nana, and there was nothing that she would not have done for them.
Helen was a very generous person and was loved by all that knew her. She was witty and very special and always fun to be around. She loved to cook and bake and always made cakes for her colleagues at work for their birthdays.
Helen and Bob went everywhere together and loved spending time together at Endless Summer, The Willows, La Botte, and the Whistle Stop. Despite suffering from migraines, heart issues, injuries from falls, enduring numerous surgeries, including multiple back surgeries, Helen always kept positive and moved forward enjoying life.
Helen died peacefully on Tuesday, November 29 at the Lompoc Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. She was surrounded by her close family and friends. The family would like to thank the center for the loving care they provided for Helen.
She was predeceased by her son, Robert Dennis Burns, Jr. which broke her heart. May she find comfort in being with him as well as her parents, brothers and sisters. She is survived by her husband Bob, daughter Jamie, granddaughter Rhiannon, grandson Dennis, brother-in-law Lee Davis, sister-in-law Beth Burns, as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins.
For anyone wishing to make a donation in lieu of flowers, here are several causes Helen believed in: Helen suffered from dementia late in life. A donation to the Alzheimer’s Association would help fund research and support programs and services for Alzheimer and dementia patients. She was an avid reader and had hoped to someday record books for the blind. The Braille Institute of Santa Barbara has volunteer opportunities and would appreciate monetary donations as well as audible books. Helen had an arrhythmia due to a defective heart valve. The American Heart Association is a good cause to support. Finally, she loved music, and loved supporting her grandson Dennis in his musical endeavors. A donation to the Cabrillo (High School) Instrumental Music Foundation (CIMF) at 1305 North H Street A-350, Lompoc, CA 93436 would be very appreciated.
Services will be held at Starbuck-Lind Mortuary at 123 North A St. in Lompoc on Monday December 5, at 2pm, with a short graveside ceremony to follow at Lompoc Cemetery.
Please join family for a potluck and celebration of life afterward at the Whistle Stop, located at 805 W. Laurel Avenue.
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