Obituary of Helen Virginia Ricks

Helen Virginia Ricks A Memorial Service for Helen Virginia Ricks of Elsberry, MO will be held at 2:00 p.m. Monday, February 4, 2008 at the Elsberry First Christian Church in Elsberry. Rev. Tom Schofield, church pastor, will officiate with inurnment in Elsberry City Cemetery. Mrs. Ricks, 91, passed away Thursday evening, January 31, 2008 at the Elsberry Health Care Center in Elsberry. Born January 22, 1917 in Elsberry, she was the daughter of Paul Hunter and Nelle Millard Gibson. She was a 1934 graduate of Elsberry High School and attended one year at Chillicothe Business College. She later attended Eureka College in Eureka, IL. Helen was employed for several years at Caterpillar Corp. in Peoria, IL. During World War II, she worked for the Civil Service in Washington, D.C. She was united in marriage on November 28, 1948 in Washington, D.C. to Nathan Albert Ricks. This union was blessed with two children: James and Randy. She was an accomplished pianist and had a great love for music that never waned. She was a former member of the Elsberry First Christian Church, and was a member of the Florissant Valley Christian Church in Florissant, MO where she loved singing in the choir. She was a former member of Chapter AI of the P.E.O. Sisterhood in Elsberry. She was preceded in death by her parents, Paul and Nelle Gibson; three brothers: Lawrence Gibson, Ralph Gibson and Glover Gregory Gibson who died in infancy; and her beloved husband of 48 years, Nathan Ricks, who died January 12, 1997. Survivors include two sons: James Ricks of Elsberry, and Randy Ricks and his wife, Laurie, of Lakewood, CO; and one grandson, Walker Ricks. She also leaves one sister-in-law, Kathryn Ricks of Elsberry; several nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends. Visitation will be held from 1:00 p.m. until the time of the service Monday at the Elsberry First Christian Church in Elsberry. Memorials may be made to Elsberry First Christian Church in care of Carter-Ricks Funeral Home, 107 South Fifth Street, Elsberry, MO 63343. Online condolences may be made at www.carterricksfuneralhome.com.