Helen Martin Rauch

Helen Martin Rauch passed away peacefully on June 8, 2024 at the age of 92, in the memory care unit of Legend of Fort Worth. She was born on November 9, 1931, in Douglas, Alaska and raised in Sitka, Alaska. Helen led a life filled with love, joy, and dedication to her family.

Helen (also known as Mamaw) attended Sitka High School for her freshman through junior years and graduated from Everett High School in 1950. Helen then married the love of her life, Vernon Rauch (also known as Tex, Sonny, Pawpaw, and Vern), in 1953 and moved to Texas. They had two daughters, Marcia (aka Sissy) and Shelly.

Helen was a busy homemaker in San Antonio when the girls were little. Most of the time she wore flip flops at home. Did you know flip flops (which were called thongs back in the day) come in handy for whipping little girls' behinds when they misbehave? She and neighbor Louise Hesskew were especially close friends back then. Helen volunteered at church, helped in the PTA, and served as a Girl Scout leader. After the girls were both in school, Helen found fulfillment working as a secretary in various capacities, including at Randolph Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.

She and Vernon enjoyed dancing (especially square dancing), playing cards, camping, and water skiing. Helen and friends Barbara and Gary Mercer annoyed many other campers with their late night sing-alongs around the campfire.

They adored their grandchildren Robert, Joshua, Kyle, and Leah. Helen could often be found singing silly songs, putting puzzles together, or playing hide-n-go seek with them and later with her great granddaughters.

In her golden years, Helen was a devoted member of the Red Hat Society and enjoyed traveling, especially with her good friend Barbara Dean. She had many hobbies that kept her busy and active, including walking, dancing, playing bridge, reading, doing crossword puzzles, and painting. She also enjoyed visiting with friends over a beer or a glass of wine. Her favorite food was chocolate, mostly candy but anything chocolate would do, such as Dairy Queen Chocolate Extreme Blizzards.

During the last few years of her life she was lovingly cared for by the staff at Legend of Fort Worth and Custom Care Hospice, for whom she always (well, almost always - she could get a little feisty sometimes) had a smile.

Helen's memory will be cherished by her daughters, Marcia Sloan and Shelly O'Dell (Mike), and grandchildren Robert Miller, Joshua Gonzales (Nikki), Kyle Sloan, and Leah Dimmitt (Jeff). She will also be fondly remembered by her great-grandchildren, Tarena, Jaycee, Annabeth, and Rylee, along with her brother, Frank Martin (Lavonne), and half-sister Diane Miether, and numerous nephews and nieces.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband Vernon Rauch and her parents, Sonia Malachoff Dinneen and Donald P. Martin, as well as son-in-law Alan Sloan.

The date and time of a Celebration of Life for Helen are pending. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Alzheimer's Association or to your favorite charity.