Helen Byrl Walz

Helen Byrl Walz was born February 5, 1921 in Herrin, Illinois, the tenth child of 13 to Jesse and Maude Jacobs. She was living in Lenoir Woods Long Term care and died at the Missouri University Hospital of natural causes. She celebrated her 98th birthday last February. Byrl is survived by her sons, Lee, and his wife Diana, and Lynn, and his wife Marie. She had three grand- sons, Ryan, his wife Katherine, Randall, his wife Shannon, and Brian, his significant other Gigi, and two step-grand daughters, Lisa Smith-McClain, her husband, Shahram Mokhtari and Kelly Fuge. She has six great-grandchildren. Byrl was predeceased by her husband, Rev. Harry Walz in March 2011. During WWII, Byrl worked at Kaiser Ship Yards in California as a welder. She spoke often of getting her Master’s Welding Certificate and building the ships. She attended Asbury College where she met her future husband Harry Walz, before going to the ship yards in California. They married in June, 1945, after her return from California. They were married 67 years. Byrl received her BA from Ft Hays State University in 1959. She taught grade school until 1968. Byrl continued to help Harry in the church, serving appointments in The Kansas West Conference for 37 years. They retired in 1983 and lived in Holcomb, Ks. In 2009 they moved to Columbia, MO to be closer to their son, Lee. A memorial with the American Cancer Society is set up and donations may be made at www.cancer.org or calling 1-800-227-2345. Service arrangements are being planned and internment will be in the Valley View Cemetery in Garden City, Ks.