Helen M Freund

FREUND, Helen M., age 100, of Kettering died peacefully on Tuesday February 10, 2009 at Hospice of Dayton. She was born May 26, 1908 in Billingsville, Missouri to the late John K. and Cornelia A. Mueller. Helen was a graduate of Kansas City State Teachers College and the University of Missouri. She taught in Independence, Missouri and Kansas City, Missouri before becoming a Christian Missionary in the Central Provinces of India in the 1930's. While there, she married her husband, Harold, Chief Physician and Surgeon at the Evangelical Hospital, Tilda India, and had two children, Jerome and Virginia. Together they continued their evangelistic work until they were recalled in 1942 by the U.S. State Department, as WW II was already in progress. After a three month arduous and dangerous journey across the Atlantic, Helen and her children settled in St. Louis Missouri, while her husband served in the US Pacific as a Naval Commander on an LST. After the war, the family moved to Illinois and later Central Missouri where Helen became involved in various local, denominational, and ecumenical church activities. She also served as president of Church Women United for the state of Missouri. Moving to Dayton in 1987, she continued in the various ministries of her church, David's United Church of Christ, giving of her time, talent, and treasure. Helen died grateful to family and friends for love and care and to God who preserved her life and that of her family in many life threatening circumstances. Along with her parents, Helen was preceded in death by her husband, Harold and her brother John. She is survived by her sister, Louise, son and daughter-in-law, Dr. Jerome and wife Pastor Elizabeth Freund; daughter and son-in-law Virginia and husband, Dr. William Dieruf; grandchildren Natasha Freund, Robert Freund, Dr. Lisa Stone, and husband Scott Stone, David Dieruf and fianc Christine Yerman and numerous other nephews, nieces, cousins, and friends. Memorial services will be held, 10:30 AM Saturday, February 21. 2009 at David's United Church of Christ, 175, W. David Rd. Kettering, OH with Pastor Rebecca Erb-Strang officiating. Interment will be held privately. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Hospice of Dayton, 324 Wilmington Ave., Dayton, OH 45420. Condolences and other remembrances may be sent to the family at www.routsong.com

Funeral Home:
Kettering Routsong Funeral Home
2100 E. Stroop Rd.
Kettering, OH
US 45429