Charles Henry Helm, aged 85, passed away on January 26, 2022 in Boynton Beach, Florida after a valiant struggle with COPD.  Charlie was born in Louisville, Kentucky on August 12, 1936, the youngest child to Henry Cowgill Helm and Martha Elizabeth Moore Helm.  Both of his parents were originally from Hickman, Kentucky.  His family had a strong connection to Hickman as his Helm great grandparents were among the early settlers.  His maternal grandparents were also residents of Hickman.  His paternal grandmother was a descendant of William Penn.

Charlie was the beloved husband of Carol Spade Helm for almost 61 years as they were married on February 11, 1961.  He was a loving father to his son, Henry (Hank) Alfred Helm, and to his daughter, Ruthann Elizabeth Helm, who were his pride and joy.  Charlie is survived by his wife Carol Spade Helm, children Hank and Ruthann Helm, brother-and-sister-in-laws Richard and Jane (Spade) Holmes, John "Skip" and Gail (Spade) Plate, and sister- in-law Ollie Helm.  Charlie leaves behind many beloved nieces and nephews.

Charlie grew up in the Cincinnati, Ohio area since the age of five.  He had fond memories of spending the summers outside Hickman, Kentucky on his paternal grandparents' cotton farm.  He helped plant and pick cotton and corn. The Helm family had built the farm near the Mississippi River in the early 1900's.

He graduated from Mt. Healthy High School (Ohio) in 1954.  Charlie had a long and distinguished career at AT&T.  He met his bride at a dance in Cincinnati, moved to the Jacksonville, Florida branch in 1967, and then to the branch in West Palm Beach, Florida in 1974 stating "I kept going in the right direction".  As an AT&T supervisor he directed the building of the first undersea phone cables to the Bahamas.  He retired from AT&T in 1989 after 32 years of service.  After being the Director of Environmental Resources Management for Manalapan, Florida since 1990; he was selected by the Manalapan Town Commissioners as the Manalapan Town Manager on February 16, 1993 where he remained until his retirement in December 1999.

Charlie's impressive community service included elected positions as the Village of Palm Springs Councilman from 1982-1992, Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council board member 1984-1992, Board of Directors of the Florida League of Cities 1990-1992, and board member of the Palm Beach County Municipal League.  He also formed the first Cub Scout group for the Village of Palm Springs in 1976.

Upon his retirement, Charlie and Carol indulged a passion for traveling and spent 13 years in their Airstream motorhome throughout the U.S. and parts of Canada; later settling in Franklin, NC for the summers.

Charlie loved fast cars and dogs.  He had a special bond with all his dogs and called his daily companion Cody "a good little puppy dog".  He had a quick wit and sense of humor.  He was a person of faith.  He was baptized later in life in the Catholic Church on April, 11, 2009.

Charlie was predeceased by his parents Henry Cowgill Helm and Martha Helm, his brother Catlett Moore Helm, sister Mary Alice Drury,  paternal grandparents Henry Catlett Helm and Alice Cowgill Helm, maternal grandparents Charles Harrison Moore and Mary Atkins Moore, Aunt Annie Russell Moore, sister-in-law Laura Helm, and brother-in-laws Ramon, Robert, Kenneth and David Spade.

Charlie will be sorely missed by those lives he touched.  Charlie wanted to be remembered as a husband, father who took care of his family and was active in the community.

The family requests that donations be made to the SPCA where he lovingly adopted his dogs Philip and Cody.
Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League
3100/3200 N. Military Trail, West Palm Beach, FL 33409, 561-683-3663
Peggyadams.org

The funeral service will be at Boynton Memorial Chapel on February 2, 2022 at 2:22 P.M.