Obituary of Helen Betty Pilbeam

Helen Betty Pilbeam was born August 9, 1918 at Milan Township, Michigan. She passed away at age 93 at Magnum Health Care in Adrian, Michigan on December 30, 2011. Her parents were Ross Archibald and Catherine Stone (Hanson ) Pilbeam. She attended the Egypt School and graduated from Dundee High School in 1937. She was employed at Chrysler (previously King-Seeley Corporation) for 30 years in Ann Arbor where she resided until 1997 when she moved back to the Pilbeam family farm in Dundee. Her mother died in 1934 and her father in 1973. She was preceded in death by sisters, Laurabel (Irving) Grady, Celia June (Gail) Thomas, Florence Leone (Clifford) Ambrose, Frances Ione Pilbeam, Marian Lucille (Eugene) Kish, and brothers Edward Leon (Lois), Gerald Ross , Harold Ross and Byron Richard (Donna) Pilbeam. She is survived by 6 nieces, Catherine (Grady) Smith, Frances (Grady) Schadewald, Marge (Grady) Hamden, Florence (Ambrose) Wilson, Mary Joe (Kish) Brossia, April (Pilbeam) Ellsworth and 9 nephews Glenn, Byron Jr., Keith , Mark and Bruce Pilbeam, Buddy Kish and Catherine Smiths two Smith sons.. She also was preceded in death by nieces Joanne Grady, Joyce (Grady) Green and nephews Dean Pilbeam, Neil Grady and Kenneth Pilbeam. There are also many great nieces and great nephews in the Pilbeam line. She found genealogy very interesting and had done extensive research on the Pilbeam line in Kent County, England and in Michigan. She enjoyed going to auctions, collecting antiques and dolls. She was a former member of the Genealogical Society of Monroe County. I n accordance with her wishes, she has been cremated. Her remains will be interred at a later date at the Azalia Cemetery with her parents, siblings and many ancestors. Friends and family may call on Tuesday, January 3, 2012 from 11:00 A.M. until a memorial service at 2:00 P.M. that day at the Cover Funeral Home, 297 Tecumseh Street in Dundee (734-529-3156). Officiating will be Rev. Courtney Williams, pastor of the Azalia United Methodist Church. Memorials may be made to the Southern Care Hospice, 1965 Boardman Road, Jackson, MI 49202. Online condolences may be made at www.coverfuneralhome.com.