Helen Ruth Huffman Whitten

Columbiana

Helen Ruth Huffman Whitten, 82, a resident of Columbiana, passed away Saturday, April 30, 2011. She was preceded in death by her husband, Billy Joe Whitten; parents, Mr. and Mrs. Horace O. Huffman, Sr.; sister, Katherine Evans; brother, Horace O. Huffman, Jr.; nephew, Ronald Mark Evans; and great niece, Kathy Gilliland. She is survived by nieces, Elizabeth “Beth” Gilliland (Bob), Vicki Holom (Dan) and Cindy Formicola (Tom); great-nieces and nephews, Jerry Gilliland, Lisa Capra (Sam), Heidi and Haleigh Holom and Joey, Phillip and Nick Formicola; great-great nieces, Alaina Portera and Gianna Capra; and a great-great nephew, Joey Capra.

Mrs. Whitten was born and raised in Columbus, Miss., and later moved to Birmingham, where she graduated in 1956 from Carraway Methodist School of Nursing. Following the death of her father, she returned to Columbus, Miss., where she later married and moved back to Alabama. In addition to her nursing career, she was an excellent seamstress and cook. Other interests were reading and crocheting. She was willing to serve her family, friends and community as needed. All of her life, she was involved with the Church of the Nazarene wherever she lived. In 2000, she and her husband were awarded the Distinguished Service Award at Columbus, Miss., Church of the Nazarene.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held Sunday, May 15, 2011, at the Columbiana Church of the Nazarene, 20200 Highway 25, Columbiana at 1:30 p.m. with Rev. Gary Tankersley officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Columbiana Church of the Nazarene for the bus ministry at the above address. Please share online condolences at Rockcofuneralhomes.com.