Marvin P. Helsel, Sr., 90 years old of Elkridge, Maryland, passed away on Tuesday, June 23, 2015 at his granddaughter, Heather Tack's residence in Ellicott City, Maryland where he had resided for the past nine months. He was born on Saturday, December 13, 1924 in Kittanning, Pennsylvania the son of Weldon and Bertha J. Helsel. He married the late Margaret "Pauline" Hawkins on August 25, 1947 in Decatur, Indiana and she preceded him in death on May 4, 2013. Marvin served his country in the United States Air Force during World War II on the Pacific Island of Tinian. From there he volunteered to help man flights dropping relief supplies after the atom bombs were dropped on Japan. Marvin was a graduate of Kittanning High School in 1947 and earned a Bachelor of Theology from Anderson University in 1952. Marvin served six Church of God congregations, including as pastor for Crow Indians from 1980 to 1987 in Crow Agency, Montana. After retiring, he served as a chaplain for a nursing home in Findlay, Ohio before moving to Seattle, Washington to be near his sons. In Seattle, he served as an elder at the Fairview Church of God and gave many hours of dedicated service to the congregation. He was a member of the National Rifle Association and the American Legion Post #0003 of Findlay, Ohio. He was a pastor for 35 years and was an ordained minister with the Church of God for 62 years. Surviving are his daughter, Marlene (Dan) Fortney of Elkridge, MD; son, Marvin P. (Karen) Helsel, Jr. of Seattle, WA; son, Mark P. (Cheri Dracobly) Helsel of Seattle, WA; five grandchildren, J. Pierre Fortney of Dubai, UAE; Heather (David) Tack of Elliott City, MD; Sharon (Casey) Bernhardt of Penang, Malaysia; Philip (Carolyn Browning) Helsel of Austin, TX; Lewis Dracobly-Helsel; and 13 great-grandchildren. Marvin was preceded in death by his parents and three brothers, Jerry; Harry; and Joe Helsel. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, June 27, 2015 in the Zwick & Jahn Funeral Home with Pastor Sandy Hildebrand officiating. Interment will follow in the Spring Hill Cemetery in rural Berne, Indiana. Friends will be received from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., Saturday, June 27 in the Zwick & Jahn Funeral Home in Decatur. Preferred memorials are to Huntington's Disease Society of America.
