Edward Wayne Helton
August 9, 1938 - January 31, 2008

Ed Helton loved sitting his grandchildren down beside him every chance he got. What was the most important thing you did today? hed ask them. Ed was a man who always knew what was most important. He was a hardworking, fun-loving man, and a loving husband, father, grandfather and friend. Most of all, Ed knew the most important thing you can do, is doing something for others.

Eds story began on a hot summer day in 1940, in the shoreline city of Muskegon, Michigan. Those were anxious times in this country, which anticipated its eventual entry into the battles of World War II. On August 9, 1940, Edward Walter and Pearl (Johnson) Helton celebrated the birth of a baby boy, a son they named Edward Wayne.

Ed was the third of the couples four children, joining his older brother Gerald, big sister Betty and little brother Ron in the familys home. They were of Swedish and Norwegian descent, and his dad worked at Continental Motors, while his mother worked as a teacher.

The family was very close growing up, and Ed and his dad often went fishing on the Muskegon River, or had family picnics at Twin Lake, after church on Sundays. They also took summer trips to Bragadocio, Missouri, where the elder Helton was born.

Ed attended Orchard View Schools, before going to Muskegon High School, where he would graduate from in 1960. Truth be told, he was more interested in cars than schoolwork, though.

Ed loved cars since he was a little boy, from the soap box derby cars he built and raced with the neighborhood kids, to the model cars he made, to the hot rods he tinkered with as a teenager. He especially loved the 57 Chevy, which was only the coolest car ever made.

After high school, Ed began working at a service station on Clay Avenue downtown. He loved going up to V & M Variety Store on Apple, and buying some model cars there. Really, though, he enjoyed going in there with his friends and teasing the pretty young salesclerk, Linda Gilbert, whose brother owned the place. As is often the case, Eds teasing was hiding his true feelings for her.

In August of 1961, just after his 21st birthday, Ed asked Linda to go with him to the Berlin Raceway in Marne. She didnt like him very much, because of all that teasing, but begrudgingly agreed to go. That was the start of a beautiful, lifelong romance. They began dating steady, fell in love, and were married on April 28, 1962.

The newlyweds started out in a rental house on Crowley, and Ed was working at the Curtain Roll Factory on Western Avenue. After the business closed, he did odd jobs for about three years, at gas stations and working for Fruitport Township. Those were some tough times, especially with their family growing.

Ed and Linda were the proud parents of five wonderful children over the years. Jeannie arrived in January of 1963, Jill in May of 64, Bob in March of 67, Tom in December of 70, and Jennifer rounded out the happy family on April 28, 1978, on their wedding anniversary!

Ed provided well for his family. His sister Betty found him a good job at the Haworth Corporation in Holland, which was a great place for him, where he worked for many years.

In 1966, Ed and Linda bought some land on E. Sternberg Road, right next to Lindas sister and her husband. With plenty of help from his family and friends, Ed built the family a beautiful home there, a home hed remodel several more times over the years, and where hed live the rest of his life.

Ed and his family did so much together over the years, especially when the kids were young. In the summertime they played in the pool, and in the winter, they skated on the ice rink Ed made them in the backyard, just like when he was a kid. They went camping at the Croton Dam in Newaygo, and they also were active in the kids 4-H Club. Ed and Linda also traveled around with Jeannie, Jill and Tom, showing their horses at the summertime shows.

Ed was a man of many hobbies, as well. He enjoyed playing horseshoes, and doing Soduku puzzles. He liked to fish, and watch NASCAR on TV. He enjoyed riding his John Deere tractor around the yard.

His favorite hobby was working in his shop in the garage, his personal haven and where he made all sorts of fantastic creations. He was infamous for his Dumpster diving, and turning the trash into treasure back at his shop. He made birdhouses, wooden guns and other creations for his grandkids.

Ed retired from Haworth after 22 years there, anxious to spend more time with his family and his hobbies. They went to all the grandkids events, and took many trips to Indianapolis to see Jennifer, always stopping at Wal-Mart on the way for some Hot Wheels cars for the kids.

Ed was the worlds greatest husband, father and grandfather, who was enormously proud of his kids and grandkids. He loved to sit his grandkids down, tell them a joke (he always had a joke), and then ask them, What was the most important thing you did today?

Ed always knew what was most important doing things for the people around him. Everyone loved Ed, the fun-loving man with the secret handshakes and big bear hugs. He was always doing things for people, and would do anything for anyone at anytime. He even dressed up as Santa Claus every Christmas, at home, at Haworth, and also worked as a Santa at Wal-Mart, too. They couldnt have picked a better Santa than Ed.

On Wednesday night, January 30, 2008, Ed hopped on his John Deere and began plowing his driveway. Then he plowed his neighbors driveway, and the next one, and the one after that, and then one more. Thats just the way Ed was.

Sadly, the very next day, January 31st, Ed died unexpectedly at his home, at the age of 67.

Ed was an incredible man, a hardworking, fun-loving character of a man, a man of secret handshakes and huge bear hugs. What was the most important thing you did today? he often asked. Ed always knew what was most important: family, friendship, and doing for others. Ed was a good man, and he was the best of men. He will be so greatly missed.

Ed is survived by his wife, Linda; 2 sons, Robert (Terri) Helton of Fruitport & Pastor Tom (Mary) Helton of Holland; 3 daughters, Jeannie (Kevin) Vos of Fruitport, Jill (Norm) Sidock of Grand Rapids & Jennifer (Stephanie Bayless) Helton of Greenwood, IN; 5 grandchildren, Tommy, Timmy, Jessica, Tyler & Nathanael; 1 sister, Betty (Fred) Kuipers of Holland; 1 brother, Ronald (Elaine) Helton of Baldwin; 1 sister-in-law, Joyce Helton of Muskegon; many nieces, nephews & his beloved dog, Elliott. He was preceded in death by his parents & 1 brother, Gerald.

Services are scheduled for Monday, February 4, 2008, 1:00 PM at the Clock Chapel - Muskegon with Pastor Michael Keller & Pastor Tom Helton officiating. Interment at Sunrise Memorial Gardens.

Visitation is Saturday, 2-4 & 6-8 PM & Monday, 1 hour prior to the service at Clock Life Story Funeral Home - Muskegon. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com to share a memory or sign the online guest book.

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