Helen Kirkpatrick Warfel

Helen Kirkpatrick Warfel passed away on Jan. 30, 2013 at Casa de Las Campanas in Rancho Bernardo. Helen was 93 years old at the time of her passing.

Helen was born on Jan. 1, 1920 in Pomona Calif. As a child she lived in Eagle Rock and spent her teenage years in Hawaii. Her time in Hawaii impressed her so much that she retained a love for all things Hawaiian for the rest of her life.

She attended Eagle Rock High School and in the family tradition graduated from Occidental College. In September 1942 she married C. Guy Warfel. They had two children Margaret Helen Warfel and Chester Guy Warfel Jr.

Helen earned her teaching credential and Masters Degree at Claremont Graduate School and earned Ford Foundation grants for Innovation in Elementary Education while teaching elementary children in Claremont, Calif.

Helen and Guy spent several post retirement years on the South Pacific Island of Saipan where they worked with the local school district to improve education for the islanders. After their island years they relocated to Fallbrook, Calif. where they were active in the Fallbrook Music Society and the Church of Religious Science.

Helen was an accomplished writer and several of her children’s stories were published in school textbooks. She researched and wrote ‘A Quiet Man,” a Kirkpatrick family history and biography of her father Harry Allister Kirkpatrick. She began writing short poignant poems (she called them “rhymes”) as a teenager and continued authoring them well into her 80’s, much to the delight of her family and friends. She regularly presented her children and friends with delightful and colorful artwork on handmade cards. Helen was a gifted individual!

She is survived by her children Margaret (Marty) and Chester (Chet); grandchildren Darren, Chris, Alex, Guy, Kirk and Sarah; great-grandchildren Isabella, Samantha, Luke, Liam, Oliver and Emerson.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Fallbrook Music Society.