Helen Painter Caldwell, 81, of 1045 Cliftwood Circle, Clifton Forge, Virginia, died Friday, November 8, 2013, at Lewis-Gale Medical Center in Salem, Va., following a very brief illness.

She was born December 8, 1931, in Clifton Forge, Virginia, to the late Roy Morgan and Florence Wilhelm Painter.

She went on to become one of the first women employees of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad, Clifton Forge, Virginia, and later became a full-time wife, homemaker, mother, and grandmother.

Helen enjoyed keeping her grandchildren, including granddaughter Kimberly Kidd Halterman in her early years, and Kimberly's children Elijah Wells Halterman, age 4, and Guinevere Lawton "Gwen" Halterman, age 6 months, more recently, known fondly as "her babies."

She loved singing to them, holding them, and playing creatively with them, and she most recently kept the children on November 4 and 5.

Granny Helen shared Elijah's love of trains and Gwen's love of closeness. She enjoyed volunteering at the schools family members attended and staffed, treasured being with family, and appreciated opportunities to travel with family, including trips in the past year to Holden Beach, N.C., Gatlinburg, Tenn., and Williamsburg, Virginia.

Helen was a member of the Iron Gate United Methodist Church, where she served as a long-time Sunday School treasurer. More recently, she attended "Big Rock" Central Advent Christian Church, where she frequently enjoyed supporting the youth group. She appreciated the great old-time gospel songs of the church, and her death is well with her soul.

Helen is preceded in death by her loving husband, Rondal S. "Bud" Caldwell; her son-in-law, Daniel F. "Danny" Kidd Jr.; her brother, Norman Painter; and her parents.

She is survived by her devoted daughter, Lana Caldwell Kidd; her granddaughter and "grandson" Kimberly Kidd and Justin Wells Halterman; and great-grandchildren, Elijah Wells Halterman and Guinevere Lawton "Gwen" Halterman.

She is survived by special friends including neighbors Mike, Patty, and Hannah Cvizic and Carol Claytor; her high school classmate, Jack Pendleton and family; and numerous friends, nieces and nephews.

The family extends appreciation to the staff of Lewis-Gale Alleghany and Salem for their excellent medical care and to numerous pastors, including Reverend Everett Kier of Salem Baptist Church, for their compassion.

A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, November 12, 2013 at 11 a.m., in the chapel of Nicely Funeral Home, Clifton Forge, with the Reverend Louis Dodd officiating as assisted by Reverend Gene Peters. Interment will follow in the Mountain View Cemetery.

Serving as pallbearers will be Mike Cvizic, Greg Vess, Don Halterman, John Hutchinson, Reverend Derek Irvine, and Luther Huffman, Jr. Honorary pallbearers include Jack Pendleton, Dr. Ali Hijazi, Dr. Scott Brown, Dr. Clay Morris, and Frank Chesson.

The family will receive friends Monday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. at Nicely Funeral Home and at other times at Lana's residence, 403 Woodland Road (Valley Ridge), Covington, Virginia.

Helen's family recommends memorial contributions to the Clifton Forge Rescue Squad Memorial Fund, P. O. Box 419, Clifton Forge, VA, 24422, or the Central Advent Christian Church Youth Group, 3515 Longdale Furnace Rd, Clifton Forge, VA, 24422. To send condolences to the family online, please visit www.nicelyfuneralhome.com.

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