Helen C. Waddle

Helen Carlsen Waddle, 92, longtime Ellensburg resident, passed away at Kittitas Valley Hospital, surrounded by her family, on Monday, August 12, 2024. 

Helen was born January 31, 1932, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to Maurice and Gertrude (Gray) Carlsen. She had one older sister, Mary Ann. While Helen was growing up, her family lived in Michigan, California and West Virginia. 

Helen earned a Bachelor's degree in History at Marietta College in Ohio. While at Marietta, Helen demonstrated her lifelong commitment to kindness and justice when she left her sorority as an objection to their discriminatory membership practices. In her senior year, she met a fellow History major, Richard Waddle. They were engaged after only six weeks of dating, and married the same weekend they graduated, in 1953. Immediately following their wedding, they drove west, and Helen spent the rest of her life in the Pacific Northwest. Helen and Richard had five daughters, and moved their growing family to Ellensburg in 1967. 

At the start of her marriage, Helen worked outside the home while Richard finished graduate school. Later, she earned a teaching certificate at Central Washington State College, and worked for a time at Jerrol's Bookstore in Ellensburg. She devoted her time, on a daily basis, to being of service to others as a volunteer. Some of the local organizations and programs she contributed to were Meals on Wheels, the F.I.S.H. Food Bank, Crisis Line, the League of Women Voters, Parks & Recreation programs such as the handicapped swimming class, and Community Christmas Baskets. She was active most of her life in Presbyterian Women, with whom she held a national office at one time, and by whom she was selected to travel on a mission tour to South Africa during the Apartheid years. In more informal ways, Helen always took care of others, by making sure those who needed it had a ride to church, a visit in the nursing home, or an invitation to share a holiday dinner with her family. 

Helen spoiled her family with homemade bread, cakes, pies, donuts, and jelly. She sewed and knit clothes for her family, and loved making quilts, and admiring other people's quilts. She played piano, and had all of her daughters take piano lessons, with varying success! She and Richard loved to travel and took their girls on many family vacations and camping trips. After Richard retired, they drove around the United States, toured Europe, and took an annual trip to Hawaii. Helen also loved to be silly - she spent many lazy mornings laughing with her daughters around the dining room table over toast and coffee.

Helen is survived by her daughters, Elaine Grey of Everett, Diane Stock of West Hartford, Connecticut, Linda (Brad) Carlton of Albany, California, Susan Waddle of Ellensburg, and Carol (Matt) Almos of Thousand Oaks, California. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Erin Youell of Denver, Colorado, Freddy Stock of Lowell, Massachusetts, and Evan Stock of Ellensburg. Helen was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, and her sister. 

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the F.I.S.H. Community Food Bank, or The League of Women Voters of Kittitas County. 

Helen's family and friends will celebrate her life in November in Ellensburg. A future notice will be placed with exact date and location. To receive information about the service, please email carolynalmos@gmail.com

Arrangements have been entrusted to Johnston & Williams of Ellensburg. Online condolences may be left at www.johnston-williams.com