Helen Cullen

A beacon of kindness and love, Helen Stephens Cullen passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family, on April 3, 2021 in San Antonio, Texas at the age of 97.

She was born on March 10, 1924 to Claude and Edith Stephens in Lynn Haven, Florida, one of twelve children, and attended Bay High in Panama City where she played clarinet in the school band. Her children, grandchildren and many great-grandchildren also attended Bay High over six decades.

Helen met Staff Sergeant Stephen Cullen in early 1942 when they worked in the personnel department at the newly built Tyndall Air Force Base. They soon began dating, got married in December, and spent almost 70 years together until Stephen's death in 2012 .

Her husband was a big Clark Gable fan and when they heard that 1 ^st Lieutenant Gable was on the base for gunnery school, he was thrilled. But it was Helen, who at the mere age of 20 had already been named a lead supervisor, who issued Gable his flight jacket. She forgot to bring paper for an autograph, so she pulled out a $20 bill and had him sign it. She enjoyed showing it to friends, but twenty dollars in the early forties was worth a lot of money -- $322 today. Her practical side won out, and she eventually spent it.

After the war, Helen became a court reporter and soon was able to take shorthand at 100 words per minute. Whatever she did, she gave it her all. Seventy years later she still had her skills and taught several grandchildren to do shorthand.

Helen and Stephen's experience in personnel helped prepare them to open Cullen Insurance in 1947 with an office on Harrison Avenue, in the heart of Panama City. For the next thirty years, she did the books, ran the office, and used her warm personality to help the agency grow and become successful.

While she took pride in the business, her greatest joy was her family and sharing her home with others. She created a welcoming place, a true sanctuary for neighbors, relatives, and friends. Her son Val recalls coming home and finding his own school buddies playing cards with his mother and having a great time. She was such an excellent card player that she had to find inventive ways to lose to them occasionally. Her youngest child, Susan, said that her mom frequently beat her friends at gin rummy.

The house on Bunker's Cove Road became a second home to many of her children's friends. Her husband likened it to the Ponderosa of Bonanza fame as he never knew how many would show up for dinner. She was an excellent cook and made such tasty beef liver that one of Val's friends complimented her on the cube steak.

Helen was a woman who enjoyed life fully including music, singing, tennis, golf, and gardening. She loved opening her house to parties, and with bands frequently playing, it was a lively and welcoming place. She was an avid bridge player and enjoyed both the social aspect and mental concentration of that difficult game.

Her second son, Kenneth Arthur – Kenny – loved his country and was a patriot. He left the University of Florida and volunteered during the Viet Nam War, serving as a paratrooper in the 172nd Army Airborne. This English and philosophy major won the Bronze Star for parachuting into a combat zone, among the first American troops to do so since World War II. Kenny said that what he wanted most in life was "a close family under the Lord." After his death, for which he was awarded the Purple Heart at age 22, Helen rededicated herself to making his goal a living reality.

In her late eighties she moved to San Antonio, Texas to be near her daughter Susan and her family. She was a resident of Franklin Park Sonterra for almost ten years and enjoyed her fellow residents and their activities. They took special delight in Spinner, a lively domino game that often kept them up for hours after dinner.

In fact, a mere two weeks after she moved in, Susan called her mom inviting her to come over for the evening. She said, "I'm busy right now, but I'd like for you to come over and enjoy happy hour with me and my friends."

After breaking her hip at age 89, Helen found walking without assistance difficult. But when she found out her granddaughter Brittany was getting married, she dedicated herself (in secret!) to working with a personal trainer for four months, so she could walk down the aisle on the arm of her grandson - without assistance. Her will and determination knew no bounds.

Helen was active in the First Baptist Church in Panama City and even taught Sunday School. But her religion was not limited to the Sabbath - she lived it daily in all her relationships. At 96, she still challenged herself to learn more about the Lord. During the last year, her oldest son Jock led her and her daughter Susan in evening Bible studies where they studied together in depth. She loved reading God's word, and it strengthened her faith.

Helen was a profound influence on so many people. In the last months of her life, she continued to share her faith with the caregivers on her floor. She believed that loving Jesus came first and wanted others to know him. As her strength waned, she was sorry that she was not able to serve the Lord as she wanted to. She continued to think of others, telling her family, "One day I won't be here, and it's okay to be sad for you, but don't be sad for me. I'm going to a better place, and I'll be with my Kenny."

One of the Bible verses that best captures Helen was from 1 Corinthians: "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."

There are few people about whom no one can find a negative word to say. Helen Cullen was one of them.

She is survived by her son Jock and his wife Margie; her son Val, and his wife, Jennifer; her daughter Susan and her husband, Aubra; her grandchildren Carol Leigh, Paige, Kenny, Michelle, Paul, Brittany, Brianna, Brett, and Brooke; her great grandchildren, Lauren, Taylor, Bowen, Gabriel, Brody, Garrett, Dani, Kaylyn, and Siena; and her great-great grandchildren Molly, Cade, Brooks, Harper and Carson.

A funeral service to celebrate her impactful life will be held Monday, April 12th @ 12pm at Wilson Funeral Home in Panama City, Florida. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Monday from 11 a.m-12 noon prior to the service.  Interment will follow in the Greenwood Cemetery.