Helen Landreth of Springfield, Illinois, passed away on November 2, 2025, at the remarkable age of 103. Born Helen Opal Lambdin on July 25, 1922, in St. Joseph, Illinois, she lived a long and fulfilling life marked by education, service, and dedication to her family and community.
Helen graduated from the University of Illinois in 1944 with a degree in Home Economics. She worked at the University of Illinois Horticultural Lab, where she contributed to quantitative analysis of apples and peaches.
In 1946, Helen married Russell Landreth. Together, they established homes in St. Joseph, Downers Grove, and Springfield, Illinois. Their first home in St. Joseph was remarkable in that it was purchased from Sears Roebuck, unloaded from a railroad boxcar and built from the ground up with help from family and friends.
An accomplished seamstress and tailor, Helen worked at Elliot's on the Square men's clothing store in Springfield and taught sewing classes at the YWCA. She generously volunteered her skills, sewing chemo caps and pillowcases as a member of the American Sewing Guild.
Helen was a lifelong member of the United Methodist Church and actively participated with the Douglas Avenue United Methodist Church choir for 51 years. She served on several church committees and was a dedicated member of the UMC Mariam circle. Even into her late-90s, Helen continued to prepare items for layette kits as part of the Methodist Midwest Mission Ministry.
Helen enjoyed gardening, sewing, bowling, singing in the church choir, and participating in Elderhostel study travels. She was active in several organizations, including the American Sewing Guild, the Home Economists of Sangamon County (HESCO), the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences, and various United Methodist Church committees.
Helen was preceded in death by her husband, Russell, and her brothers, Stephen and Philip Lambdin. She is survived by her son, Bruce (Sue) of Anthem, Arizona, and her granddaughters Jessica (Ari) Vlacos of San Francisco, California, and Erica Landreth of Boulder, Colorado.
A memorial service honoring Helen’s life will be held at Douglas Avenue United Methodist Church, 501 S. Douglas Avenue in Springfield on Saturday December 6th at 10 AM, with refreshments to follow. Donations in Helen’s memory may be directed to the church.
https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/springfield-il/helen-landreth-12592251
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