Helen Louise Von Richthofen

Helen Louise von Richthofen Helen von Richthofen, age 79, a resident of Watkinsville, Georgia, passed away on December 5, 2017, at St. Mary's Hospice House, Athens, Georgia. Helen was born the daughter of Harley William and Rose Genevieve (Thomas) Frizzell on November 9, 1938 at the home near Chillicothe, Missouri. Helen attended Green Grade School and Chillicothe High School. She studied at Casper's Beauty School in St. Joseph, Missouri, after graduation. Helen worked as a secretary for a number of companies in Missouri and Minnesota. She was united in marriage to Friedrich "Fritz" Heinz von Richthofen on December 22, 1966. Fritz came to the United Stated in 1963, the day President Kennedy was assassinated. He worked for the Donaldson Company in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and was a German citizen at that time. They lived in Werne, Germany, and Montlucon, France, for one and a half years after marriage where Fritz was setting up Donaldson Manufacturing Plants. They resided in Minnesota for a number of years after transferring back to Fritz's employment at Donaldson Company in Minnesota. Together Helen and Fritz traveled extensively in Europe and on a sabbatical leave they traveled around the world for one year in 1973 and 1974. In 1977, they moved to Athens, Georgia, where Fritz was employed at Conwed Plastics until retirement in 1999. Over the years Helen and Fritz acted as hosts for many international students, some who were attending the University of Georgia in Athens. Helen was active in a number of groups for many years including Athens Garden Club, Greensboro Garden Club, Greensboro Writers' Guild, Colonial Dames, Daughters of American Revolution and many other creative classes and activities. In 1992, they purchased a Victorian house built in 1888 that was slated to be demolished and moved it in pieces to their farm outside of Watkinsville, Georgia, and reconstructed it over the next 16 months. They held an open house party in 1994 and continued to enjoy the newly assembled home for many years. Helen planted many trees, food producing and interesting plants on the 99 acre farm over the years since they purchased it in 1989. They named the farm "Jasmine Terrace" and had many magnolia trees planted along their long driveway to the house. Survivors include sisters, Willa Vee (Frizzell) George and husband Jim, Gail O'Bryan (Frizzell) and husband Jack, and sister-in-law, Lois Frizzell, and their families, and many nieces and nephews; Godson, Todd Olson and many extended von Richthofen family members in Germany. He was preceded in death by her husband, Fritz, her parents, her brother, Dale Frizzell, and niece Diane (Frizzell) McNally. Memorial services will be held at the Lindley Funeral Home, Chillicothe, Missouri, on Saturday, December 16, 2017, at 11:00 a.m. A scheduled visitation will be held at the Lindley Funeral Home, Chillicothe, Missouri, on Saturday, December 16, 2017, from 10:30 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. Friends may call at the Lindley Funeral Home, Chillicothe, Missouri, on Friday, December 15, 2017, from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Burial will follow at Burnside Cemetery, Chillicothe, Missouri. Memorial contributions may be made to Burnside Cemetery and may be left at or mailed to Lindley Funeral Home, P.O. Box 47, Chillicothe, Missouri, 64601. Online condolences may be made to www.lindleyfuneralhomes.com . Arrangements are under the direction of Lindley Funeral Home, Chillicothe, Missouri.