Helen Bowman McCann

Helen was born and raised in Harford County. She used to tell the story of her father being a very devoted, conscientious, public servant as a US Mail Carrier. If he was on duty delivering mail, Helen was allowed to ride on the running board but not get inside the vehicle. It was, obviously, on government business. This ethical example characterized Helen’s approach to life.

After graduating from Bel Air high school at the tender age of 16, Helen found a job with the government working at Edgewood Arsenal in support of the war effort. All employees were required to carry a gas mask in case there was a leak. Sure enough, one day she was working just outside of the gate and there was a gas leak that required evacuating the building and escaping up wind. As luck would have it, her mask was on the arsenal. Each day she would don her hat, gloves, and heels (as was the dress of the day) and walk to the designated pickup point for her ride to the arsenal. At the tender age of 18, she had had enough of that walk and bought her own car. In that day and age, everyone could drive a manual transmission.

Although Jack McCann played piano for the high school sock hops and as lunchtime entertainment, she was never really enamored with him when they knew each other in school. Evidently, he was not tall enough to meet her requirements. After the war when he returned from the Army he must have grown to an acceptable height.

She and Jack were married in August of 1948. Jackie arrived in August of 1949 and Howdy in August of 1951.

Helen was a universal blood donor; her O negative blood was in constant demand. As part of the war effort, she donated regularly. She literally donated hundreds of pints of blood during her lifetime and for many years it was not unusual for a hospital to call and ask if there was sufficient time since the last donation for her to come in again.

The McCann family operated a highly successful construction business. Helen’s Edgewood Arsenal experience helped her jump in with both feet and become the company’s bookkeeper and secretary -- a position she meticulously maintained for over 50 years.

A world traveler, Helen and Jack traveled via small planes, large planes, ships and their beloved Airstream trailer.

Helen’s priorities were family, church and community. She kept the McCann clan, housed, fed, and healthy. In her granddaughters, Holly and JJ, she instilled her compassion, a bubbly love of life, and an insatiable work ethic while providing moral and ethical values through her teachings and example. Those same values can now be found in her 6 great grandchildren.

To the Fallston United Methodist Church (FUMC), she gave freely of her contagious enthusiasm, talents, and labor. Helen devoted hundreds if not thousands of hours to FUMC by serving on the Admin. Board, numerous committees, funeral luncheon coordinator, Senior Choir, Junior Choir Director, Bazaar planning and coordination, and candy making to name just a few of her contributions.

In terms of community, she was a tireless volunteer. As “Sunshine Chairperson” for a local AARP chapter and her TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) group, Helen created, printed and mailed about 20 personalized cards every month. As head of the Old Bel Air High School Reunion Program (Classes from 1931 to 1955) she organized reunions and reunited former students for over 50 years. For many years she delivered “Meals on Wheels” to others often much younger than she. Among her few personal flaws was the inability to turn down most any charitable request. Always a patriot, for personnel deployed overseas she would find unit designations and addresses from Aberdeen Proving Grounds, the MD Army National Guard and the MD Air National Guard. Out of the kindness of her heart, Helen sent hundreds of “CARE” packages to the troops overseas. Each box contained socks, soap, other necessities, and was packed with loving care. With all of this going on, in 2007, at age 82, she was recognized as one of “Harford’s Most Beautiful People.”

For her 100th birthday Helen received over 150 cards, letters, notes and calls from the people whose lives she had touched. Any of us would be lucky to be so loved. She will be missed.