BEAVER DAM, Ky. — Helen Thomas Longfellow Gearhart, 97, of Beaver Dam, passed away at home April 24, 2018, after a short illness. Helen was born Jan. 20, 1921, to Samuel and Georgia Allen Longfellow in Franklin, Kentucky.
She obtained her bachelor’s degree and became a registered nurse at Charleston General Hospital in Charleston, West Virginia. During World War II, from 1941 to 1945, she worked at numerous hospitals and doctor’s offices across the country, traveling on her own by train across the country to Seattle, Washington.
After the war, she and her husband, Abe, moved to St. Albans, West Virginia, where he practiced medicine as a surgeon and she raised their four children. Later, the family moved to Owensboro, Kentucky, where Helen resumed her career as a nurse in her husband’s medical practice. Together they treated many patients in Owensboro and surrounding communities.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Samuel and Georgia Allen Longfellow; infant sister, Ruby Jean Longfellow; husband, Abe Gearhart, M.D.; brother-in-law, John Floyd Collins; and daughter-in-law, JenRay Gearhart.
She is survived by her sister, Mildred Collins, of Beaver Dam; daughters, Jeannie (Tom) Graham, of Lexington, Kentucky, Mary (David) Gray, of Garland, Texas, and Susan (Gary) Plas, of New Port Richey, Florida; son, Allen Gearhart, of Savanna, Georgia; nephew, Sam (Judy) Collins, of Cave City, Kentucky; grandchildren, Sarah Edmundson, Elizabeth (Ron) Burchett, Grant (Incarni) Gearhart, Kim (John) Cuff, Kelly Plas, and Kate Plas; great-nephew, Mac Collins; and great-grandsons, Cameron Edmundson, William Burchett, and Alex Cruz Gearhart.
Funeral Services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 28, at William L. Danks Funeral Home in Beaver Dam with Rev. Ed Mitchell officiating. Burial will follow in Oakwood Cemetery in Hartford. Helen’s family will receive friends from 11 a.m. until the time of service Saturday at the funeral home.
Online messages of condolence may be left for the family of Helen Gearhart by visiting her memorial tribute at www.danksfuneralhome.com.