Helen Norwood Deathe
HELEN NORWOOD DEATHE, daughter of NANNIE LELIA NORWOOD and RAYMOND HELSER DEATHE, was born December 3, 1911 in Anderson County, Texas,22 and died July 5, 1999 in Travis County, Texas.105 She is buried in Cook-Walden Memorial Hill Cemetery, Austin, Travis, Texas.456
Education
- Helen Norwood Deathe graduated from College of Industrial Arts, Denton, Denton, Texas in June, 1932 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics.1605
Newspaper Articles
Prospector, September 9, 19411604
Different Dorms—Inside and Out
Miss Deathe Moves In
"This is Powell-Hallam blue in the newly painted dining hall," explained Helen Deathe, vivacious red head recently appointed director of dormitories, "but it looks green to me." Miss Deathe clarified the color situation by adding that the paint was a mixture of the two colors formerly used in the redecoration of old southern homes.
Leading the way into the kitchen, the busy directory disclosed "Jim," the dormitory cook, wearing a towering chef's cap. Even his domain has received a beauty treatment of creme paint. This year the dormitory students will find "licking the plate clean" a pleasure as the china designed by Vera Wise, head of the college art department, has arrived. The unique china has an Ivory base with orange bands extending from the Texas College of Mines emblem.
Residents of Worrell Hall will have an attractive room for leisure hours, Miss Deathe revealed, since the former trunk room has been redecorated for use as a game room. Chromium and leather furniture will be placed in the men's lounge. A telephone booth was installed this week.
Sutdents will be just one jump behind Emily Post after she completes plans to have a host and hostess at each table. Seat assignments will be changed every six weeks to permit new acquaintances to be made.
Miss Deathe's special joy is the two oil paintings presented the women's lounge by the senior art class under the direction of Miss Wise. Cacti and native growth in vivid greens characteristic of the Southwest are featured.
With her soft southern accent, she explained that the social calendar of the dormitory residents would be filled with picnics, parties, and dances.
Miss Death did her under-graduate work at Texas State College for Women at Denton and received her bachelor of science in home economics and management from the University of Texas. She did a year's interne work at Michael Reese Hospital in Chicago, taught home economics for three years and has been at the University Tea House for five years. She is working on her master's degree.
Prospector, March 18, 19441603
Dorm Girls Honor Deathe At Party
Monday night the residents of Benedict Hall honored Miss Helen Deathe, director of dormitories, with a farewell party. The girls presented Miss Deathe with a gift.
Peggy Cary entertained with a selection of Hawaiian dances.
Cookies and punch were served.
Miss Deathe will leave for the University of Texas next week.
Obituaries
Austin American-Statesman, July 8, 199912480
Helen Norwood Deathe
Helen Norwood Deathe passed away on Monday, July 5, 1999.
Helen was born on December 3, 1941, to Raymond and Mary Deathe.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her only sibling, Mary Katherine Deathe.
Helen's entire professional career of 36 years was spent working for the state of Texas. She taught school for three years in Baytown, Texas and then worked the remaining 33 years with the University of Texas System, three years wit UT El Paso and 30 years with UT Austin. SHe taught in the home economics department at UT Austin and managed the Tea Room which many UT students of the thirties and forties remember with great fondness. When she retired in 1968, she was the director of men's residence halls.
Helen received a B.S. in Food and Nutrition and a M.S. in Institutional Administration. Food was the love of Helen's life, she loved eating out and trying new restaurants. She was forever attempting to figure out all the ingredients in whatever dish she had ordered. When at UT, she taught with Helen Corbitt and many of the recipes in Ms. Corbitt's cookbooks were from Helen.
Helen was a devoted member of St. David's Episcopal Church and was instrumental in the designing of the kitchen in Sumners Hall. She also loved volunteering at the Next to New Thrift Shop operated by St. David's Church.
Helen was a member of the P.E.O. Sisterhood, having been initiated into Chapter CR in 1953. She held every office except corresponding secretary and was a delegate to the International Convention for the 100th Anniversary of P.E.O. in 1969.
Helen enjoyed traveling and, in 1960, went on the very first "Flying Longhorns" trip to New Mexico. She also traveled with them to Europe, returning 18 years later with her godson, Tre. She was also an honored guest at the inauguration of Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964 with Earl and Weeze Deathe and their son, Tre.
She is survived by her godson, Earl P. "Tre" Deathe, his wife, Nikki, and their two children, Jordan and Alison. She never married or had children of her own and introduced Tre, Nikki, Jordan and Alison to everyone as "my family." She took her role as godmother very seriously and was an abiding presence in Tre's life.
The family wishes to thank Liz Mackey and the people at Senior Patriots who helped make Helen's last months as comfortable as possible.
Funeral services will be Thursday, July 8, 1999 at 10:00 a.m. at St. David's Episcopal Church, 304 E. 7th St., with The Reverend T. James Bethell officiating. A reception will follow immediately in Sumners Hall. Interment will be at 12:30 p.m. at Memorial Hill Gardens.
Honorary pallbearers are Harold Lawrence, Ollie Caffey, John Pillans, John Deathe, Jim Sawyer and Bert Green.
Memorial contributions may be made to Chapter CR - P.E.O., 2812 W. Fresco Dr., Austin, Texas, 78731 for a scholarship to be created in Helen's name.
Census Records
| Date | Location | Enumerated Names |
|---|---|---|
| January 15, 1920519 | Texas City, Galveston, Texas |
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| April 15, 1930526 | Justice Precinct 3, Harris, Texas |
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| April 9, 19402695 | Austin, Travis, Texas |
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