Helen Dessin Spurr, 98, of Winchester, VA, crossed the Rainbow Bridge on Wednesday, October 11, 2023 at Blue Ridge Hospice Inpatient Care Center with a procession of beloved pets.

Helen was born in 1925, in Philadelphia, PA, the daughter of the late Charles Harry and Frieda Mary (Blair) Dessin. Helen completed 12 years of education in 11 years. She continued with evening courses at Temple University while employed full time at Vick Chemical for 4 years. After several interviews and a few more birthdays Helen achieved her goal of being hired by IBM and becoming a Systems Engineer. After 38 years of service, she retired in 1984 moving to Frederick County with her husband Frank A. Spurr, Jr. who predeceased her on February 7, 2011, a few days short of their Golden Anniversary.

Helen is survived by her stepson Steven Spurr, his wife Cheryl, stepdaughter Susan Chicca, her husband Thomas, four step grandsons, their spouses, 5 step great granddaughters, plus 2 step great grandsons, numerous members of her extended family and members of her P.P.M. Support Group.

Helen served as President of the North Frederick Extension Homemakers for several years and won the Homemaker of the Year Award in 1993. She was President of the Apple Valley Garden Club serving multiple terms. Helen also volunteered at Reynolds Store Fire and Rescue as a member of the Ladies Auxiliary for 27 years. She was a member of Highland Memorial Presbyterian Church where she sang in the choir.

One of Helen’s dreams was to make her property a wildlife refuge and bird sanctuary. She accomplished this by continually making food, water and shelter available. Her love and concern for the welfare of animals is reflected in an endowment fund given to Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University School of Veterinary Medicine at Blacksburg, VA.

Her pets were her children and if you didn’t understand that, you didn’t know Helen.

She enjoyed playing the piano, singing, dancing, painting, writing poetry, picking up sticks on her property and making us laugh.

We enjoyed her positive outlook, upbeat personality, and contagious enthusiasm.

Helen was born with a smile on her face.

A Memorial Service will be conducted at 1:00 p.m. on November 17th at Omps Funeral Home, Amherst Chapel, with the Reverend John A. Robinson, Jr. officiating. For those unable to attend, the service for Helen will be livestreamed.

The Family will receive friends on November 17th at a reception following the Service at the Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made in memory of Helen to: Reynolds Store Volunteer Fire & Rescue, 9381 N. Frederick Pike, Cross Junction, VA 22625 or Highland Memorial Presbyterian Church, 446 Highland Ave., Winchester, VA 22601.