Helen (Leitzel) Kelchner

Helen C. (Leitzel) Kelchner, 92, formerly of Berwick, passed away February 27, 2017 at St. Luke's Villa, Wilkes-Barre, where she was a resident. She was born January 18, 1925 in Lewisburg, a daughter to the late Lester and Mary (DelCamp) Leitzel. Helen moved to Berwick in 1940 and was a 1942 graduate of Berwick High School. On January 22, 1945 Helen married the love of her life, Richard H. Kelchner. During the war, they resided in California while Richard served in the Navy until his discharge in November, 1945 when they returned to Berwick. Helen was active in many capacities with the First Presbyterian Church and Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. She also was active for years in civic affairs including serving as a precinct election volunteer, a term as a member of the Berwick School Board, and as a "gray lady" volunteer at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Wilkes-Barre. As a freelance writer and photographer, she placed articles and photos in numerous publications, including the Reader Digest, the Harrisburg Patriot News, the Draft Horse Journal, and the Lancaster Farming magazine. For many years Helen was instrumental in organizing counties along the North Branch of the Susquehanna River to support state funding for spraying for black flies. She also tutored adults and new immigrants in reading and writing. In 1997 Helen authored the book "Captured Moments in Time-Berwick, 1942," which was an annotated collection of photographs of Berwick taken in 1942 by the late Fred Longenberger, formerly of Berwick. Surviving Helen are three sons: Thomas and his wife, Lin of Carlisle, Timothy of Nescopeck, and Todd and his wife, Kit of Wilkes-Barre; a daughter, Mary Creasy and her husband, David of Berwick; eight grandchildren: Jacob P. Kelchner, Joseph T. Kelchner, Lizzie B. Creasy, Tucker J. Creasy, Amber Young, Bethany McHenry, Sarah Kelchner, and Brian Kelchner; and eight great-grandchildren: Grace Marie, Andrew Jacob, Emma Katrina, Keely Helen, John Young, Abby Young, Ashlynn McHenry and Jude McHenry. As well as her parents, Helen was preceded in death in 2008 by her husband, Richard. Also preceding was her brother, Franklin Leitzel. Honoring Helen's wishes, her body was donated to Science Care of Philadelphia. A memorial service for Helen will be held 11:00 AM Saturday, April 8 at the first Presbyterian Church, 320 N. Market St., Berwick. Pastor Steve Engelhardt will serve as the celebrant. Friends may call at the church from 10:00 AM until time of the service. Interment will follow at Pine Grove Cemetery. The Kelchner-McMichael-Baker Funeral Home is handling the arrangements. Messages of love and support can be sent at www.kelchnerfuneralhome.com.