Helen May Karst

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Helen May Karst of Speedway, Indiana passed away October 4, 2021 at age 95.

Born May 15, 1926, in Baltimore, Maryland, to the late Bessie and Ernest Knox, Helen resided most of her life in Speedway, Indiana. In recent years, she was a resident at Wellbrooke of Avon.

Helen led a full life! After graduating from Shortridge High School, in January of 1944, she followed the advice of her father, a well-known tax attorney, to major in Business at Butler University. Helen successfully completed her four-year course of study, earning a Bachelor of Science degree on June 7, 1948. Although she worked in a local Attorney’s office for several years, Helen realized that her talents were not at all well suited to that profession!

Helen met her future husband Douglas P. Karst through a mutual friend at a Young People’s event at All Saints Episcopal Church. She and Doug married on June 11, 1949. Excited to start their family, they were struck with tragedy in August of 1951 when Helen delivered full term, still-born triplets, Christopher, Theodore and Philip. Sorrow turned to joy when a healthy son, Philip arrived safe and sound on September 2, 1952, and daughter, Kathryn Diane followed two years later.

Helen often related the story of how she fell in love with the profession for which she is best remembered—elementary education. After visiting a high school friend’s classroom in Colorado, Helen immediately knew that teaching young children was what God meant her to do.

But that road was not easy! With two young children to care for, Helen courageously enrolled in night school classes at Butler University, earning her Master of Science degree in elementary education on July 31, 1959, launching her nearly three-decade career teaching Kindergarten and later 1st grade at IPS #61 and IPS #107. Helen not only touched the lives of countless children, she mentored scores of budding teachers. After retiring, Helen volunteered with the HOST program in Wayne Township Schools, and also volunteered on the Altar Guild at the former St. John’s Episcopal Church in Speedway.

Following the death of her husband in 1993, Helen made the unprecedented decision to open her home every Wednesday to her knitting group. She also found solace and companionship by adopting two beloved Westies named Daisy and Molly. When declining heath necessitated her move to assisted living at The Harrison, Helen agreed to give a new home to a cantankerous cat named Lily, who often escaped the confines of her apartment as soon as visitors opened the door! Helen’s impressive DVD collection also provided hours of enjoyment. She especially loved old Westerns, including The Virginian, as well as award winning Musicals like Carousal and Oklahoma! Even through the fog of dementia from which she suffered the last ten years of her life, Helen could recite actors’ names and review favorite movies like nobody’s business!

Helen was preceded in death by twin brother Charles, sister Mary, triplets Christopher, Theodore and Philip, and husband Douglas P. Karst. She is survived by her two children, Phil (Jenny) Karst, daughter Kathryn (Jack) Patterson and four grandchildren, Natalie (Zach) Richards, Joshua (Tiaya) Patterson, Kevin (Craig Plazony) Karst and Matthew (Kelsey) Karst, who each have special memories of trips with Grandma Helen to a variety of places including the library, the park, and art and music lessons. Helen was also blessed with nine great grandchildren. Special thanks go to the extraordinary staff at Wellbrooke of Avon whom she also thought of as family, and provided such loving transitional care.

Calling will be held from 10 -11 am, with funeral service immediately following on Saturday, October 9, 2021 at Flanner Buchanan-Speedway, 2950 N. High School Road, 46224. Interment will be at Washington Park North Cemetery, 2706 Kessler Blvd W. Dr. Indianapolis.