Helen Marie Wagner Towle June 10, 1915 - October 23, 2015 She was a beautiful woman. This was the usual sentiment for anyone who met her for the first time and refused to believe this vibrant lady was even close to her actual age. This was always the sentiment that came from anyone who knew her, and understood that so much of her beauty came from within. She bubbled over with love for her friends, her church, the Lord, and her family, and there was nothing she enjoyed more than spending time among the family that loved her. One could judge her life a stunning success just by the number of people that adored her, but there was so much more. She started to play piano when she was just 5, and when she was in middle school, she played at the local theater for silent movies. Though she claimed that she could no longer play piano at 100, when she sat down in front of the instrument, magic happened, and the music came pouring out. Her artistic talents weren't limited to music; she painted, decorated cakes, knitted, and enthusiastically tried many other artistic endeavors, since she was interested in and excited to try just about everything. One would hardly imagine that this lovely woman was also a member of the Civil Air Patrol during the 1930's, flying her own Piper Cub near the coast of Lake Michigan. Helen died peacefully on October 23, 2015 near her residence in Long Beach, California; she had celebrated her 100th birthday, surrounded by children, grandchildren, and great grand-children on June 10, 2015. She was born near her childhood home in Plainfield, Illinois, but she and her husband moved to California in the 1950's, and they eventually raised their 5 children in Shell Beach. She was preceded in death by her husband, Willard Martin Towle, and by her eldest daughter, Jocelyn Towle Punches. She is survived by her children, Willard Martin Towle, Jr., Richard Wagner Towle, Michael Joseph Towle, and Melanie Towle Forbes, their spouses, children, and grandchildren. This dearly loved woman spent her last hours reminiscing about her family that she adored and filled her with joy. She will remain forever alive in the hearts of the family that loved her just as much as she loved them.
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