Helen Wilson Looby

Helen Wilson Looby, formerly of Charlotte, died Tuesday, December 6, 2016 in Pensacola, FL. She was born on November 20, 1922 in what is now Eden, NC. A loving wife and mother, a dedicated hospital volunteer, and a WWII WAVE, Helen lived a life of dedication to her family and others. She cared for her husband who had Alzheimer's in their home for many years until his death in 2002. During WWII, Helen followed her brother and cousin into the war effort by enlisting in the Navy WAVES. She received her basic training at Hunter College in New York and was posted to the Naval Air Station in Miami, FL. There, she was one of a few women in the United States Navy accepted for training in aviation ordnance. Following her training, she worked with artillery on TBF Avenger torpedo planes. It was also at NAS Miami that she met her future husband Bill. She was a near-professional seamstress, making almost all of her daughters' clothes as well as her own. Later in life, her love of sewing led her to enjoy many crafts. She was also a lifelong fan of professional baseball, and usually cast her allegiance with the team closest to home. One of her greatest gifts to her family was the memoir she wrote. In it, she recorded memories and impressions of a full life. Mrs. Looby is predeceased by her husband, Bill. She is survived by her two daughters, Diane L. Persell of Pensacola FL and Carolyn L. Rose of Mount Holly NC and her husband Nathan; her three grandchildren, Theodore Wagner and his wife Kimberly of Newark DE, Susan Wagner Blackham and her husband Chris of Charlotte NC, and Geoffrey Persell of Atlanta, GA; and her six great-grand children. A funeral to commemorate her life will be held in the Chapel at St. Gabriel's Catholic Church in Charlotte on Tuesday December 13th at 11AM. Burial will be private. The family of Mrs. Looby wishes to express their gratitude to the Veterans Administration, Regency Hospice of Pensacola, and the staff at the Brookdale Assisted Living Facility in Pensacola. Instead of flowers, the family would be grateful for a donation to one of these organizations: the Alzheimer's Association at P.O. Box 96011 Washington, DC 20090-6011; Regency Hospice of Pensacola at 50 Beverly Parkway, Ste. 200 Pensacola, FL 32505; or to Crisis Assistance Ministry at 500A Spratt St. Charlotte, NC, 28206. Hankins and Whittington Funeral Service is serving the family of Mrs. Looby.