Dr. Helen M. “Hartsie” Hartshorn, 95, passed away Monday, December 31, 2018. Dr. Hartshorn was born April 27, 1923 in Acton, Buncombe Co., NC. She was the second daughter of Frank O. Hartshorn and Ruth Davis Hartshorn.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Ruth H. Cabe, and her brother Staff Sgt. William D. Hartshorn USAF, Ret. Dr. Hartshorn is survived by her nephew William D. Hartshorn, Jr.; grandnephew William F. Hartshorn (late wife Ashley) and their children Hailey, Alex, and Aiden; niece Ruth H. Anderson and her husband Eric and their children Edwin and Davis Anderson; grandniece Bethany H. Peck and husband Adam and their sons Lincoln and Sawyer; niece-in-law Shirley F. Hartshorn; cousin Mary Lane Hartshorn; and by her late close friends Mary Louise Carpenter’s children Michaelle S. Moore and husband Kelly and her children Mary Kristen Beggs and Justin Sellers and Scott Carpenter and his wife Susan and son Currie.
Dr. Hartshorn, known as “Hartsie” by many of her students, taught in the Health, Physical Education, and Recreation Dept. at Western Carolina University for forty-one years. She was famous for the many hiking and camping trips on which she took her students, because of the unexpected adventures that would usually occur involving bears, floods, runaway trucks, broken down buses, and inclement weather.
She received the Dr. Paul A. Reid Outstanding Teacher Award. Dr. Hartshorn was nationally recognized by the National Special Olympics Office for her leadership in establishing Special Olympics in Western North Carolina through Western Carolina University. This effort encompassed the territory from Marion to Murphy and eventually led to each town and/or county conducting its own Special Olympics and sending winners to state and national competitions.
She also helped develop a six-week summer camp at Western Carolina University for handicapped children from Buncombe County to Murphy. The camp included academic experiences, music, art, and recreational activities. Dr. Hartshorn’s legacy will be her love for her students, for all handicapped children, for her colleagues, and her many friends.
Her widespread interests in professional and community activities included: serving as president of the N.C. Health, Physical Education, Recreational, and Dance Association; District President of Federated Women’s Clubs; National Secretary of Alpha Phi Sigma National Honor Society; and offices in Delta Kappa Gamma. Dr. Hartshorn was a proud graduate of Sand Hill High School, Western Carolina Teacher’s College, George Peabody College for Teachers, and the University of Georgia. She did post graduate work at the University of Kentucky and Harvard University.
What a family! What a Career! What Teachers!
What Friends! What a God! Thank You, Lord!
! Your Servant Helen. A memorial service will be held 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 3, in the Patton Avenue chapel of Groce Funeral Home, with the Rev.
Bill Soloman officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. A private family graveside service will be held at Riverside Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to: ABCCM, 30 Cumberland Ave. , Asheville, NC 28801, or to Women in Physical Education Scholarship, WCU Foundation, 201 H.F. Robinson Bldg. , Cullowhee, NC 28723.
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