Helen Gates Grant Gardner Wanberg 1923 ~ 2007 A special angel joined the heavenly choir when Helen Wanberg was called home on April 4, 2007. Though saddened by her passing, we celebrate the life of this remarkable woman who met adversity head-on and endured with courage, enthusiasm and joy to the very end. Born March 2, 1923 in Salt Lake City to B. Cecil and Gweneth Gibbs Gates, Helen attended local schools and graduated from West High School. From her father, a well known LDS composer, she inherited both the talent for and love of music. Helen attended Longey School of Music, Cambridge, Massachusetts, and took vocal lessons from her beloved Aunt Lou, a successful opera singer. She became an accomplished vocalist in her own right, and particularly treasured the times when she and family members sang her father's cantata, "Resurrection Morning." Music became one of the great joys of her life. Helen married James William (Bill) Grant, March 8, 1943 in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. He preceded her in death. She married Owen Gardner, Dec. 8, 1961. Following his death she married Ray Wanberg in August 1995 and spent more than 11 delightful years with him. A faithful member of the LDS Church, Helen held numerous callings, including her favorite---working (and singing) with the Primary children. She and Owen served in the California Fresno Mission with the Laotian-speaking people. Helen took great pleasure in being a stay-at-home mom and homemaker. An excellent cook, seamstress and meticulous housekeeper, she claimed her organizational abilities came from her great-grandfather, Brigham Young. Perhaps he was also the reason she became such an avid BYU fan! Helen loved the outdoors and gadding about in the family motor home. She especially enjoyed fishing, maybe because she usually managed to out-fish everyone else. In her later years she and Ray savored their Friday night dates and outings. Playful and young at heart, Helen always buoyed up others with her positive outlook and cheery disposition. Helen is survived by her husband Ray; children and stepchildren, Jim (Karla) Grant, Marilyn (Claude) Price, Judy Grant, Susan (Joe) Inman, David (Beth) Grant, Janet (Richard) Brown, Marilyn Dimond, Kent (Karen) Gardner, Richard Gardner, Duane (Wendy) Gardner, Diane Thorum, Ronnie (Bill) Hilton, Paul Wanberg, Janie Wanberg, Kelly (Macae) Wanberg; sister, Lou Ashton. Also survived by 44 grandchildren, 68 great-grandchildren and seven great-great-grand-children. Preceded in death by her parents; two husbands; son-in-law, Earl Dimond; one granddaughter; brother, Bud; sisters, Ruth Duffin and Gweneth Mulder. Funeral services will be held Tues., April 10, 2007, 12 noon, at the Capitol Hill 1st Ward, 413 W. Capitol, Salt Lake City, with a viewing at 11:00 a.m. prior to the services. A viewing will also be held Monday, April 9, 2007, 6-8:00 p.m. at Larkin Mortuary, 260 East South Temple. Interment will be at Holladay Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to breast cancer research through the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, see http://cms.komen.org/komen/index.htm. Online condolences and sharing of memories are invited at www.larkinmortuary.com
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