Helen Whetstone

WHETSTONE Helen Margaret Nagy, 91 years old. Born Dec. 14, 1918. She was "Promoted to Glory" on Thursday, July 22nd, after many years of illness. In some circles she was called Helen; others know her as "Peg." As a child of Stephen and Julia Nagy, she lived in Elyria, Ohio, in a family with nine children. Only one sibling, John Nagy, still living in Elyria, survives. Helen Margaret graduated from The Salvation Army Training College in New York City in 1938, continued additional training as a nurse, and was in charge of the Infant's Floor of the Brooklyn Nursery and Infants Hospital for foundlings in Brooklyn NY for three years. On May 19th, 1942, she married Captain Ross E. Whetstone, also at that time a Salvation Army Officer, and served with him in Corps local church work in appointments to East Stroudsburg, Scranton, Sayre PA and Syracuse, NY. She gave birth to three children, Judith Elaine Whetstone Judy Douglas, now living in Hesperia, CA., Ross E. Whetstone Jr. Skip, and Frederick L. Whetstone "Rick" . Both sons enlisted in the US Air Force during the Vietnam era, and are now deceased. In 1950 Helen Margaret became a pastor's wife, as husband Ross accepted an appointment to Methodist Churches in Daggett /Roseville, PA, and Webb Mills, NY. Then to Wellsburg/Lowman, NY, as Ross attended Colgate Rochester Divinity School in Rochester NY, ninety-five miles away. During these three academic years she took care of two churches and three children every week from Monday evening until late Friday afternoon, when he returned to the parish for the weekend. Following her husband's full ordination and appointment to churches in Troy, PA, Canandaigua NY, then to North Syracuse, NY, she was widely recognized as an exemplary pastor's wife in full partnership. In 1967 the Whetstone family moved to Nashville, as her husband was appointed to Discipleship Cultivation on the General Board of Evangelism. This later became the General Board of Discipleship, and his responsibilities were enlarged to a section, as Assistant General Secretary for Evangelism. During this time Helen Margaret was employed by The Upper Room Subscription Department. She served there with distinction for eight years, as she continued to be supportive and was an excellent hostess for friends and denominational General Board staff. In retirement the Whetstones continued to live in Bellevue and became more active in the Bellevue United Methodist Church. In September, 2002, they moved to nearby housing related to the Lakeshore Meadows, and Helen Margaret was admitted to the Meadows Nursing Home on August 1st, 2009. She was a patient there until the time of her death. "Servant of God, well done! your glorious journey is past. The battle is fought, the victory is won, and you are home at last!" Adapted Visitation with the family will be at Harpeth Hills Memory Gardens, 9090 Highway 100 from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Friday, July 30, and on Saturday, July 31, from 12:30 until 1:30 p.m. in the Welcome Center of the Bellevue United Methodist Church, 7501 Old Harding Road, Nashville. The Funeral Service, conducted by The Rev. David Rainey, will then be in the sanctuary, beginning at 1:30 p.m. The Grave-side Interment Service will be in the Friend's Cove Double Brick Church Cemetery, southeast of Bedford, PA, at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, August 7th, with The Rev. Jess Welsch, Pastor of the Bedford United Methodist Church, presiding. Harpeth Hills Funeral Home, 9090 Hwy 100, Nashville, TN, 37221. www.afamilylegacy.com 615-646-9292