Helen Reintzel

Dec. 20, 2014

 

Mrs. Helen Reintzel, 92, died Dec. 20, 2014, at Cypress Glen Retirement Community.

A memorial service will be held Friday, Jan. 2, at 3 p.m. in the Brown Chapel at Cypress Glen.  Interment will be in Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.

Mrs. Reintzel was a native of Washington, DC, and a resident at Cypress Glen Retirement Community since 2006.  Helen’s life revolved around family, church, and music.  Her musical talent was recognized when she was a young child, resulting in her studying piano.  She was passionate about music, and studied with well-known musicians.  She was invited to study at Sherwood Music School in Chicago (now part of Colombia College) while still in high school.  She earned her Bachelor of Music from Sherwood in February 1944.  After her marriage to Army officer and World War II veteran Malcolm F. Reintzel, Helen taught piano and frequently served as organist for churches at which they were members.  She once won an award for two original hymns she composed.  In addition to music and church, Mrs. Reintzel devoted her life to her family.  She stayed close to her brother and parents throughout their lives, and stayed home while raising her children, engaging them in family games such as Scrabble, Checkers, and Michigan Rummy.  Mrs. Reintzel also loved to travel.  She meticulously planned and then documented in her journals three family camping trips across the continent.  These journeys gave her children the gift of visiting sights such as Yellowstone, Glacier, and Zion National Parks; the Grand Canyon and Petrified Forest; Lake Tahoe, the Great Salt Lake, and much more.

Helen was preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, Malcolm Reintzel, in 2007.

She is survived by: two daughters, Janet Cooper and husband, Richard, of Washington; and

Alice Phillips and husband, Gary, of Crawfordsville, Ind.; grandchildren, Kirsten Cooper Jones and husband, Wesley, Derek Cooper, Kendra Cooper Ratliff and husband, Tim, all of Washington; Jessica Phillips Rohlfing of New York, N.Y.; Brooke Phillips of Valencia, Calif., and Benjamin Phillips of Brooklyn, N.Y.; great-grandchildren, Rebecca and Alice Jones, and Julia Ratliff, all of Washington; and Jonah and Malcolm Rohlfing, both of New York, N.Y.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to National Alzheimer Association, Benevolence Fund of Cypress Glen, 100 Hickory Street, Greenville, NC 27858, or the charity of one’s choice.

Arrangements are by Wilkerson Funeral Home & Crematory, Greenville. Online condolences at www.wilkersonfuneralhome.com