Helen Sturgeon

Helen Mae Stofle began her life’s journey on March 12, 1937.  Born to Oscar and Nellie on Butler St. in Ludlow, KY. Two months earlier, during the great Ohio river flood of 1937, Nellie, Helen’s heavily pregnant mother was evacuated from the family home by rowboat. During high school she worked at Mrs. O’Dorsey’s candy shop where she formed a lasting friendship with Jeanne Hagar. She attended and graduated in 1956 from Ludlow High School with her life long best friend, Ottie Jones. Her other surviving dear friends and card club members are Shirley Lukey, Myra Yates and Gladys Chanley. After high school she went to work at Cincinnati Bell as a switchboard operator, where she met and married her first husband, Brian M. Barkley in 1957. They first settled in Dayton KY where they welcomed their daughter Catherine. After moving to Ludlow, KY sons Dennis, Brian Douglas, and Jeffery completed their family. Helen reentered the workforce in the early 1970s beginning her second career as a credit associate at Shillitos/Lazarus where she worked until 1984 when she started a new life with her second husband, Harvey Sturgeon. Widowed in 1990, she then spent her time watching her grandchildren, volunteering, coordinating senior trips, class reunions, hosting card parties and friends. Never knowing a stranger, Helen always had a ready story about her children and grandchildren. Her favorite times were hosting Thanksgiving & Christmas Dinner with her family. She was proud to be a member of the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonel and a member of Ludlow Baptist Church. She is survived by her beloved children, Catherine (David) Waite, Ludlow, Dennis Barkley, Ft. Mitchell, Brian Barkley (Suzanne Vollrath) and Jeffery (Katie) Barkley of Cincinnati. Grandchildren, Davy, Megan (Jonathan), Jeffrey, Seth, Shafter (Plan), Haden (Jordan), Emily (Tyler), India, Tatum and Carly. Great grandchildren, Vivienne, Simon, Noelle and Owen. She is survived by her beloved sister, Barbara Lindle and niece, Laurie Sparks in addition many other nieces and nephews. Her brothers, Herman and Edward Stofle and sister, Doris Brewster preceded her in death. Visitation is on Monday, December 4, 2023 from 4:00PM until the hour of service at 6:30PM all in Ronald B Jones Funeral Home, 316 Elm Street, Ludlow, KY.  Burial is private to the family. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Ludlow Independent Schools, 525 Elm Street, Ludlow, KY 41016. Ronald B. Jones Funeral Home is serving the family. Online condolences to www.ronaldbjones.com