JUNE 7, 1924 – JANUARY 21, 2023
Helen Eileen Barnhardt Kraus was taken to heaven by her Savior Jesus Christ on Saturday January 21, 2023. She was ninety-eight years old, and a resident of the Brethren Retirement Community in Greenville, Ohio, where she slept away into heaven.
Helen was born on June 7, 1924, in Greenville, Ohio, to her parents Emma and Lloyd Barnhardt who had preceded her in death. Also, she was preceded in death by her loving husband Jack Boyer Kraus, whom she married June 1, 1946, and had died on July 31, 1988. Likewise, she was preceded in death by her twin great grand-daughter and grandson Claire and Noah Lovell. Helen had six brothers and sisters-in-law who have preceded her in death, and they were Chalmer (died in infancy), Lucille (Bill) Koerner, Alice (Neil) Foley, Marcella (Kenneth Bickel and Charles) Burns, Wayne (Viola) Barnhardt, and Donald (Ruth Etta) Barnhardt.
Surviving members of her family include her son Thomas (Linda) Kraus and her daughter Beth (Philip) Roth. She is survived by her five grand-daughters and their husbands Holly (Dan) McElwee, Amy (Brian) Lovell, Rachel (Sheldon) King, Meghan (Dave) Sternberg, and Leah (Stephen) Horn. Her twelve great grand-children include Anna and Kolton Harvey, Olivia McElwee, Kaleb Lovell, Camryn King, Marissa King, Aden Sternberg, Jackson Sternberg, Eileen Sternberg, Ryder Horn, Reagan Horn, and Zachary Horn. Helen has one surviving brother and his wife, her younger brother Keith (Ruth Anne) Barnhardt. There also numerous nieces and nephews who survive as well.
She was a graduate of Greenville High School in the class of 1942 and was an active member of their class reunions until they decided to cease having reunions. She was a graduate of Miami University in 1967 when she received her Bachelor of Science Degree in education. Then she taught third grade at East and South Elementary Schools in Greenville, Ohio for twenty-five years. She loved teaching, and she loved her third graders. She was the co-owner of Kraus Jewelers which was located in Union City, Indiana. She and Jack both retired at the same time in 1988. She very much liked to decorate the window displays, especially the Christmas window.
Helen was a life-long member of the Christian Missionary Alliance Church in Greenville, Ohio. She started to attend there when she was a little girl and walked to church, holding her mother’s hand. Throughout the years, she served the church by being a Sunday school teacher, by being a vacation Bible school coordinator and teacher, and by participating and supporting the Women’s Prayer Fellowship. Her home was always open for visiting pastors and missionaries who were ministering at the church.
The family would like to thank Helen’s family, friends, neighbors, teaching colleagues, church friends, and the staff at the Brethren Retirement Community for all of their love and friendship over the years. Also, We would like to thank Pastor Aaron Hostetter for his visits and prayers.
The visitation and funeral will be held on Saturday January 28, 2023 at Zechar Bailey Funeral Home located at 1499 North Broadway, Greenville, Ohio 45331. Visitation will be held from 10:00 AM until 11:00 AM and the funeral will be at 11:00 AM. The service will be officiated by Rev. David Sternberg and Rev. Aaron Hostetter. The interment and committal service will be held at Highland Cemetery in Covington, Ohio.
Memorial gifts may be given in her name to the Christian Missionary Alliance Church located at 306 Devor Street, Greenville, Ohio 45331.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.zecharbailey.com for the Kraus family.