Helen Ruth Harper (Plainview)

Helen Ruth West Harper, 93, of Plainview, Texas, died on July 11, 2016 at Plainview Healthcare Center. Funeral services are scheduled at the First United Methodist Church of Plainview on Saturday, July 16 at 11:00. Burial will follow at the City of Levelland Cemetery. Visitation is from 6:00 to 8:00 PM, Friday, July 15, at Kornerstone Funeral Directors at 3605 SW 3rd Street, Plainview, Texas. Helen was born in Hale Center, Texas on July 26, 1922 to Ouida Ruth Fergason West and Lamar Gillean West. She attended schools in Lubbock, Texas and Levelland, Texas and graduated from Lubbock High School in 1940. While a student at Texas Tech, Helen was selected to be a member of Las Leales, an organization composed of women of outstanding scholarship, leadership, and participation in extra-curricular activities. She was also a member of the Association of Women Students. During her senior year, Helen was the President of Alpha Chi, a national scholastic honorary fraternity for men and women, composed of the upper ten percent of the junior and senior classes. She graduated from Texas Tech in 1944 with the highest possible grade point average and as one of the top three students in her class. Helen married John Charles (Jack) Harper (1918 – 1982) of Kirkwood, Missouri, on May 12, 1946. Helen met Jack during World War II when he was stationed at the Army Air Corps flying school in Lubbock and Helen was a student at Texas Tech. After living a short time in St. Louis, Missouri and several years in Lubbock, Texas, Helen and Jack made their home in Levelland, Texas. Helen worked as office manager and secretary to Jack, a CPA, in their accounting firm in Levelland and later as a secretary at Hall and Harper CPAs, also in Levelland. Helen and Jack moved to Plainview in 1971, and Helen worked as office manager and bookkeeper for Sherman’s Plainview Plumbing until her retirement. Helen was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Plainview, Texas and, previously, a member of the First Methodist Church of Levelland, Texas. At Plainview Methodist, Helen was the treasurer of the Harmony Class, treasurer of the United Methodist Women, and a member of the Iva Wheeler Circle. Helen was a past president of the Business and Professional Women of Plainview and a volunteer for the Plainview Literacy Council, where her assistance made an important difference in the lives of the adults who were her students. Helen was honored by the Plainview RSVP as a volunteer for the Literacy Council and for her work at the Unger Memorial Library and the Museum of the Llano Estacado. Helen is survived by her children, daughter Patricia Harper of Deland, Florida and son John Harper of Dallas, Texas. She is also survived by her grandchildren Tara Harper of Dallas, Texas, Bradley Harper, of New York, New York, and Bonnie Bone and her husband Grant Thrower of Alexandria, Virginia. We would like to expresses our gratitude to Plainview Healthcare Center for their loving care of our mother. We also appreciate the medical staff of West Texas Family Medicine for their innovative treatment. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the church or charity of their choice in her memory.