Helen Ruth Tenscher was born October 6, 1913 in Washington D.C. She died January 8, 2013 at age 99 years in Lompoc. Her parents were Roy Sellers Brown and Aida Ruth Layman-Brown of Virginia. She was preceded in death by brother George Brown, sister Evelyn Sellers Brown-Davis, and husband Edward William Tenscher.

She is survived by her son Newman J. Whitmire formally of Lompoc and now in Nevada, and daughter Sue Ellen Tenscher-Ruminer of Lompoc; two grandsons Nathan Roy Whitmire and Nicholas Paul Whitmire; two granddaughters Michelle Ruminer-Bjorklund and Amy Ruminer-Park and six great-grandchildren Roy Moran Jr., Kyra Gentry, Chase and Dillon Bjorklund, Catalina and Noah Park. As a young woman, Helen worked for the Navy Yard in Washington D.C. as a record keeper. It was at that time she met and married Henry Whitmire and had a son Newman. After a divorce, she moved to California where she met and married Edward Tenscher. Both were working for the Division of Highways at the District 10 Office in San Luis Obispo. Later, Helen worked for Margaret McNeil as a seamstress in her women's wear retail shop in downtown San Luis Obispo. From there, she moved to Salinas, Hayward, Stockton (where she learned to Square Dance), and then to Menlo Park as her husband received promotions. When a local school reached out to her, she became a crossing guard at an elementary school across the street from where she lived helping children cross a dangerous street corner. She loved to garden, embroidery, knit and paint and was an avid reader about the Civil War as her family had deep roots in Virginia. Helen loved her family and made friends wherever she went. When her sister Evelyn was widowed, she moved her out to California so they could keep each other company until Evelyn's passing in 2007. Helen was a member of Calvary Baptist Church and was involved in their Awana Program for many years. She enjoyed working with kindergarten-aged children helping them learn their bible verses. The opportunity came when she was able to assist in the Baptism of her granddaughters Michelle and Amy which was a great pleasure to her. Soon after, she became a founding member of North Avenue Baptist Church where she and her sister enjoyed many deep and abiding friendships. She so appreciated the Word of God. Helen was known by her grandchildren as "grandma in the airplane" because they were always saying good bye or hello when she was leaving or arriving from a trip. Her great-grandchildren called her "Gigi" which was a lot easier for them when they were little and the name just stuck. We were blessed by her presence in our lives, blessed with her love and sage advice and we will miss her terribly. As the bible says in 2 Cor 5:8, to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. Her heavenly family has welcomed her home to paradise. Well done, good and faithful Gigi.

Funeral services will be held 11:00 am Saturday, January 12th at the chapel of Starbuck-Lind Mortuary, 123 North A Street, Lompoc. Private burial will be held at the Santa Maria Cemetery.