Helen Parker Holden

Helen Parker Holden passed away on April 1, 2014 (the anniversary of her mother's passing) at home in Newport Beach, California at the age of 92. A descendant of Mayflower Pilgrims, American Revolution Patriots, and other pioneers of America, Helen was born in Glendale, California and raised there. After some time at Glendale Junior College, Helen attended fashion design school until she worked as a clerk/secretary at Lockheed during World War II. When the war was near its end, TWA hired her, and in spring of 1945, she began hostess training in Kansas City. Helen received her first passport in 1947 when she was chosen for TWA's second international training class. From 1945-1958, she worked on DC-3s, DC-4s or Connies and was based in Kansas City (MKC), Los Angeles (BUR & LAX), Washington D.C. (DCA), Cario (CAI), Tel Aviv (TLV), and New York (IDL) and flew all routes from New York and Washington D.C. to Bombay. She was Master Chairman of ALSSA (the flight attendants union) for two years and then Regional Vice President representing the West Coast. She served on two contract negotiating committees, one with her cousin Mary Kay Bain, whom she had encouraged to become a TWA hostess and ultimately became Director of In-Flight Personnel for TWA.

In 1957 Helen married William P. Holden, whom she met when he as Chief of Operations hired her sister to be a flight attendant for Kirk Kerkorian's charter airline. Bill later worked as a Customer Service Representative for Lockheed on Constellations and F-104s. By the time Helen left the airline (mandatory when she became pregnant), she was #3 on TWA's worldwide hostess seniority list. She continued to travel until the age of 90.

In 1969/70 Helen was executrix for the estates of four relatives including her husband, and she became guardian of two orphaned nephews. She moved to Newport Beach in 1970, did bookkeeping for her father's commercial real estate, and cared for her aging parents. Through the years, Helen was very active in TWA Clipped Wings and was also a lifetime member of organizations aiding in adoptions – Jane Russell's WAIF, for which she chaired a major fund raising event honoring actress Helen Hayes, and Operation Children.

Calm, quiet, and thoughtful, Helen generally maintained a cheerful attitude and lived in the present moment rarely complaining of her own pain or stress. She spoke her truth, sometimes too bluntly, but always from a place of love and caring for improvement. Her basic guides in life were the 10 Commandments, the Golden Rule, and the Serenity Prayer. She showed her love by her deeds and gifts, which included homemade napkin sets, crocheted potholders, knit scarves, and microwave ovens. She stayed aware of current fashions, made much of her own clothing, and did her daughter's alterations until macular degeneration ruined her eyesight. Even while she was transitioning to the next form of life and seeing "the other side," she was shopping for gifts.

Helen is survived by her daughter, Donna, two nephews Rick and Greg Hart, a sister, and many other nieces and nephews. She was laid to rest at Glendale Forest Lawn where her parents, grandmother, aunts, sister, and other relatives are also buried. On her grave marker is inscribed, "Traveling With Angels."

Her wings are no longer clipped and she is soaring with God. Her smile will be missed by many. Her love will remain in our hearts forever.