Gerald Edward "Ed" Helms

Mr. Gerald Edward "Ed" Helms, age 87, of Auburn, formerly of Ozark, died Wednesday, August 15, 2012, at the home of his daughter and son-in-law in Auburn.

Funeral services will be 2:00 P. M. Saturday, August 18, 2012, from Ridgecrest Baptist Church in Ozark with Reverend Jim Hill and Reverend Harry Circle officiating. Interment will follow in Woodlawn Memory Gardens, Holman Funeral Home of Ozark directing. The family will receive friends at Ridgecrest Baptist Church Saturday from 12:30 P. M. until service time.

Mr. Helms was born May 18, 1925 in Geneva County to the late James Walter Helms and Magnolia Cox Helms. He was a veteran of the United States Army, serving during World War II in the Philippines.Mr. Helms owned and operated Dale Auto Parts in Ozark and Center Auto Parts in Daleville from 1956 until 1984. He and Mr. Bobby Waters have owned and operated Carefree Mini Warehouses since 1979. Mr. and Mrs. Helms were charter members of Ridgecrest Baptist Church in Ozark where he served as a Deacon for 44 years. Mr. Helms was also a member of Claybank Masonic Lodge #908.In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his son, Donald E. "Don" Helms; three sisters, Gladys Vinson, Martha McKinney, and Lorene Hawkins; and one brother, Tim Helms.

Survivors include his wife, Mary Loyce Butler Helms of Auburn; one daughter and son-in-law, Peggy and Shawn Crumpler of Auburn, one sister, Sarah Stokes McCord of Dothan; his granddaughter, Lindsey Helms (Mark) Spalding of Chattanooga; an adopted granddaughter, Allison Johnson and her daughters, Anna Grace and Emma; one step-grandson, Erik Pitcher of Daytona, Florida; one great grandson, Jackson Spalding of Chattanooga.

Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to Ridgecrest Baptist Church Building Fund, 1971 Deese Road, Ozark, Alabama 36360; or to Vista Care Hospice, 3615 South Railroad Street ~ Suite 3, Phenix City, Alabama36867.