Helen Sharpes Radcliffe

Helen Sharpes Radcliffe, 91, of Mount Vernon, OH, passed away into her heavenly home on Saturday, September 16th, 2023  
  
Helen was known for being a hard worker.  This tireless and driving personality was learned early as a daughter of Lowell and Lucile (Kinzie) Sharpes of Harrisonburg, Virginia.  After Helen’s two older brothers were born, her parents felt the Lord calling them to have more children. The first of this set was Helen (born Dec 21, 1931), followed by 3 more, whom Helen shepherded with a diligent hand.  She was also a child during the Depression, and lived in a rural area where effort and ingenuity were a matter of survival.

Helen distinguished herself at Dayton High School as the class valedictorian and editor of the 1949 yearbook.  She attended Bob Jones University in Greenville, South Carolina for 2 years. There she met her husband, David S Radcliffe, whom she married in 1951, after he graduated. They moved on to seminary and they started their family right away. After seminary, they went into the pastorate, serving in 9 different Church of the Nazarene congregations over a period of 53 years.  Helen was Dave’s true helpmate, serving in many positions in the church over the years as well as backing her husband in every situation. In several pastorates, when her boys were in school, she also had part time jobs outside the church, to help make ends meet.

She loved her family and was also a caretaker for 3 of their aging parents.  Her mother, Lucile, from ages 88-93 was in a rest home nearby. Every day she would take her father, Lowell Sharpes Sr, to see her as well as visit a short time herself.  Her father lived with them from ages 88-100 when she coordinated the party celebrating his 100th birthday with a gathering of 88 family members.  Her mother-in-law, Glenaire Radcliffe, moved to the town where they were living, and Helen would fix her evening meals and take them to her on their way to the rest home for her mother. Then in her last months, Glenaire also lived in their home.

Passing to Heaven before Helen were her dear husband David on Mar 16, 2017, two brothers Lowell Sharpes Jr and Donald Sharpes, both of Broadway, Virginia, and sister Velva Rowan of West Melborne, Florida.

Surviving are two brothers, Dr. Wayne (& Wanda) Sharpes of Lima, Ohio and Rev. Raymond (& Pat) Sharpes of Mount Vernon, Ohio.  

Also surviving are her two sons: Rev. John (& Tracy) Radcliffe, of Brownsburg, Indiana who serves with The Navigators; and Dr. James (& Kathy) Radcliffe, now of Mount Vernon, Ohio who served as a missionary surgeon with the Church of the Nazarene in Papua New Guinea for over 30 years. 

Their eight grandchildren also survive: Drs. Benjamin (& Katherine) Radcliffe of Papua New Guinea; Rebekah (& Dr. Joel) Potter of Anchorage, Alaska; David W (& Kathryn) Radcliffe of Avon, Indiana; Timothy (& Bethany) Radcliffe of Mount Vernon, Ohio; Jason (& Larisa) Radcliffe in Kandern, Germany; Priscilla (& Wyatt) Mills of Mount Vernon, Ohio; Josiah (& Elana) Radcliffe of Boise, Idaho; and Lydia Radcliffe of Mount Vernon, Ohio.  

Sixteen great-grandchildren also survive: Simeon, Matthias, Tabea, Naomi & Luka Radcliffe of Papua New Guinea; Sylvia, Dora & Rosie Potter of Anchorage, Alaska; William & Ruby Radcliffe of Avon, Indiana; Betsy, Dottie, & George Radcliffe of Mount Vernon, Ohio, Graham & Micah Radcliffe of Kandern, Germany; and Athey Mills of Mount Vernon, Ohio. 

Helen is buried alongside her husband in the mausoleum at Mount Vernon Memorial Gardens in Mount Vernon, Ohio

A Celebration of life service  for Helen S. Radcliffe will be at Lakeholm Church of the Nazarene.  October 19th, with visitation from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM followed by the service at 11:00 AM.  Helen’s nephew Rev. Scott Sharpes, Lead Pastor, will conduct the service. 

Instead of flowers, she requested Memorial Contributions be given to help support the Papua New Guinea Missionary work.  Send to Lakeholm Church of the Nazarene, 16001 Glen Road, Mt. Vernon, OH  43050.