Helen D. Caldwell

Helen Mae Dunlow Caldwell, 89, widow of Alexander Lee Caldwell, Sr., passed away on Saturday, April 4, 2026, at Augusta Health in Fishersville.

She was born on December 18, 1936, in Boykins, to the late Louis Hurley and and Samantha Rayner Dunlow.

Helen graduated from Boykins High School and Smithdeal-Massey Business College in Richmond.

In 1958, Helen married Alexander Lee Caldwell, Sr. and they moved to Staunton in 1967 when Mr. Caldwell's job brought him to the Valley as superintendent of the Shenandoah Valley Juvenile Detention Center.

Helen was a stay-at-home mother to both her children, Alex and Karen, until 1978 when she began working at Western State Hospital in Staunton in its reimbursement department. She later worked as an executive secretary for the Virginia Alcohol Beverage Control's office in Staunton until her retirement in 2002. After retirement, she worked as a private caregiver for Home Instead.

Helen lived a life of service to her family, her church, and her community. A thirty-eight year member of the Staunton-Augusta Lions Club, she held many offices including president, and she received the Distinguished Humanitarian Award, Lion of the Year, and the organization's highest conveyed honor - the Melvin Jones Award. She also served as a past president of the Business and Professional Women's Association. Most recently, she served on the board of Meals on Wheels.

Throughout her life, Helen cherished her role as a wife, mother, grandmother, and friend. She provided unwavering support and unconditional love to all.

Helen joined St. Paul's United Methodist Church in 1970. As part of her service to her church, she taught Sunday school, was the secretary of the church council, an was an active member of the United Methodist Women - in which she has served as president for thirty years. She visited shut-ins, helped prepare meals, transported congregational members to and from church, and served on the Board of Ushers. She also served for eight years on the United Methodist Women's Staunton District. Her church family meant the world to her and were so wonderful to her.

Helen is survived by her son, Alexander Lee Caldwell, Jr., and his wife, Cindy; her granddaughters, Hannah Lucas and her husband, James of Missouri City, TX and Emily Kling and her husband, Kyle of Broadlands, VA; her five great-grandchildren, James, William, and Madeleine Lucas and Charlotte and Maxwell Kling. She is also survived by a sister-in-law, Catherine Dunlow and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents and her loving husband, she is preceded in death by her daughter, Karen Lee Caldwell; her sisters, Pearl Barbara Dunlow Brown and Mildred Dunlow Vaughn; and a brother, Luther Lewis Dunlow.

A funeral service will be conducted on Friday, April 10, 2026, at St. Paul's Church in Staunton with Reverend Ryan Oswald officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service, beginning at 12:00 PM.

Interment at Oak Lawn Mausoleum and Memory Gardens in Staunton will be private.

In lieu of flowers, it is suggested that those desiring may make memorial contributions to the American Heart Association (PO Box 840692, Dallas, TX 75284-0692) or to the American Cancer Society (P.O. Box 6704, Hagerstown, MD 21741).

The family would like to thank all of Helen's friends who provided love and support during her illness - especially Dr. Kerry Alexander, the staff at Augusta Health Cancer Center, April Miller of Augusta Health Palliative and Transitional Care, the staff of Augusta Health's Skilled Nursing, and Dr. Christopher Heck of Augusta Health Hospice of the Shenandoah House in Fishersville.

Henry Funeral Home in Staunton is in charge of arrangements.