- Date Of Birth: January 17, 1928
- Date Of Death: August 26, 2015
- State: Georgia
Mrs. Ruth Amaryllis Helfer Fahl, age 87, passed away peacefully Tuesday, August 26, 2015.
Mrs. Fahl was preceded in death by her loving husband of 58 years, Edmund Fahl, and her parents, Leopold and Marion Helfer of Gastonia, NC. She is survived by her daughters Lisel Perselay, Brigitte Gregg and Gretchen Alexander; her son, Edmund Fahl, III; grandchildren, Robert Nix IV, Stephanie Richards, Kelsey and Ashley Perselay; great-grandchildren, Ryleigh Nix, Robert Nix V and Izabell Richards; sister, Patsy Splawn; brother, Leo Helfer.
Mrs. Fahl was born in Gastonia, NC, in 1928. She went to boarding school and subsequently graduated from Sacred Heart Academy in Belmont, NC. Upon graduation she was a nurse for a short time as well as a telephone operator; as a hobby she played in the first semipro women’s basketball team in Gastonia. She married in 1950, moved to Decatur, Ga., took time off to raise her four children, and returned to Southern Bell as a supervising manager in Operator Services and Construction. The family moved to Newnan in 1971 and as a Construction Supervisor, Ruth was actually in charge of laying the first fiber optic cable in Coweta County; she retired in 1991 with 30 years service.
Ruth loved to dance and party, but her passion was always her garden and her membership in and leadership of the Coweta County Master Gardener’s Association since 1986. She loved to teach about plants and was known for sharing her plants. Mrs. Fahl’s garden was included on numerous garden tours and it was considered for a feature article in Southern Living. As down to earth as she was and a friend to all rich or poor, Ruth’s heritage dates to 1438 in Bavaria, Germany, where the remains of her family’s castle overlook the village of Burglengenfeld. The coat of arms her father carried with him to America in 1907, as a means of introduction, still hangs in the family home in Newnan.
Mrs. Fahl passed away peacefully at Clemson Downs, Clemson, SC. The family wishes to extend their gratitude to Home Helpers®, especially Quiyonna Wyatt and Montice Monroe, who lovingly cared for her for 4 months in her home; also to the Affinis Hospice Palliative Care Unit for their support, and lastly to the entire staff of Clemson Downs, and Providence Hospice, who lovingly cared for her in her final days.
