Columbus
Helen Elizabeth Cortner, 89, of Columbus, passed away in peace at 10 p.m. Friday, August 21, 2015, at Gordon Hospice House in Statesville, North Carolina, after an extended illness. She was born December 21, 1925, in Jonesville, Indiana, to the late Edward and Elsie (Schrader) Meyer.
Helen had been residing with her daughter Connie and Connie’s husband Bob in Statesville for the past 6 years.
Helen graduated from Columbus High School in 1943 and began working at Cummins Engine Company. She married Louis Lee Arnholt and they were together until his death in 1962. She then began working at the health department in town and later was a librarian’s assistant in the Bartholomew County School System. She later married William Cortner and they were together until his death on September 15, 2006.
In addition, Helen was a culinary genius and will be forever appreciated for her pies, cakes, cobblers and other sweet treats. She enjoyed gardening and watching the birds feed through her kitchen window while she baked. She was a lifelong member of Saint Paul Lutheran Church-Clifty.
She is survived by her brother, Donald (Hazel) Meyer of Jonesville; two sisters, Evelyn (John) Horman of Jonesville and Lucille Gaier of Pleasant Valley, New York; a son, Larry (Karen) Arnholt of Yelm, Washington; and two daughters, Connie (Robert) Holland of Statesville, North Carolina, and Susan (Roger) Hornback of Spindale, North Carolina. Helen has six grandchildren. Her daughter Connie’s children are: Reuben, age 41, Jessie, age 36, and Jonah, age 34. Susan’s children are: Justin, age 33, Allie, age 30 and Micah, age 26. Helen was blessed with nine great-grandchildren.
The funeral service will be conducted at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, August 26, 2015, at Saint Paul Lutheran Church-Clifty, 6045 E. State Street, with Pastor Doug Bauman officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. prior to the service and will convene in the fellowship hall at the church at 12:30 p.m. for food and time to share.
A memorial service will be held in North Carolina at 2 p.m. Sunday August 30, 2015, at Winthrop Friends Meeting Church, 262 Winthrop Road, Harmony, NC 28634, with Rev. Harold Salmon and Pastor Tom Korbel officiating.
Memorial contributions in memory of Helen may be given Hospice of Iredell County, 2347 Simonton Road, Statesville, NC 28677.
Jewell-Rittman Family Funeral Home is serving Helen’s family.
You are invited to light a virtual candle, share a memory of Helen or send condolences to the Cortner family via the Internet.
