Helen Ruth Mumford Scherer

Helen Ruth Mumford Scherer died at her home in Atlanta on January 2, 2018, two months shy of her 100th birthday.

A native of Macon, Ga., Helen lost her own mother at the age of 11, a fact that had a great impact on her life and led her to value family above all else. She is survived by three children--daughter Paula Scherer Stephens and sons Carl Geary Scherer (spouse Dianna Austin Scherer) and Charles John Scherer Jr. (spouse Josephine Arroyo Scherer)--and was preceded in death by husband, Charles John Scherer, originally from St. Cloud, Minn, brother, Olin Mumford and grandson Scott Austin Scherer. Helen is also survived by seven grandchildren--Jonathan Eugene Stephens, Carl Geary Scherer Jr., Paul George Scherer, Charles John (Chip) Scherer III, Stephanie Ann Scherer Wray, Jennifer Arroyo Faas, Chelsea Renee Scherer Neel, and 15 great-grandchildren.

She graduated from Georgia State College for Women in Milledgeville, GA with a BS degree in Home Economics & Institutional Management. She joined the Regular Army in 1942 as a first lieutenant, Helen served as a hospital dietitian in North Africa and Italy. She later worked at both Emory University Hospital and DeKalb General Hospital (now DeKalb Medical Center). For many years she provided consulting dietetic services to the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Cancer Home in downtown Atlanta. Helen also was active at her church, St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Decatur, Ga., serving as a vice president of the parish's Women's Club and as a Camp Fire Girls leader. And, in addition to her own work as a dietitian and mother, Helen assisted her husband every evening with his paperwork as a wholesale grocery salesman. Her family revered her for her strong work ethic and the example she set of caring for her family first, last, and always.