Helen Litwiller Plank

Helen Litwiller Plank died Saturday morning, January 24, 2009,  at her Greencroft residence. She was preceded in death by her husband, Alden, a sister, Lillian Yoder, and a brother, Ernest Litwiller. She was 95.   Born April 5, 1913, in Middlebury, Indiana, (Mary) Helen was the daughter of Ella Berkey Litwiller and Silas Litwiller. She grew up in Middlebury, where she graduated from Middlebury High School in 1931. After two years of working for the Middlebury Independent, the local newspaper, specializing in writing obituaries, she attended Bluffton College in Ohio and later, the University of Michigan, taking classes in literature and journalism. In 1938 she married Alden J. Plank, of Topeka, Indiana. They were married in one of the first church weddings at Warren St. Mennonite in Middlebury. In 1947, she helped her husband found and operate Plank’s Printing Service / Rapid Ribbons, moving to Goshen in the same year.   Mrs. Plank was a long-time member of the 8th St. Mennonite Church, Church Women United, and the Philomatheons.  She was a charter member of the Oofiegas while still in Middlebury. She helped found and was on the board of directors of The Window and Walnut Hill Day Care for over 20 years.  She was well-known throughout the Goshen community as a guest speaker, presenting book reviews to many clubs and organizations.  Her best-remembered presentation was a historical and humorous accounting of the 1897 edition of Sears Roebuck Catalog.     Mrs. Plank is survived by a son, David (Patricia), Goshen, and a daughter, Martha (Kim) Sechler, of Nashville, Indiana, and four grandchildren, Andrew (Tammy), Newton, Kansas, Elizabeth Plank, Valparaiso, Aaron Sechler, Washington, D.C., Joel Sechler, Miami, Florida.   Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday, January 26, 2009, at Yoder-Culp Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service Tuesday at Eighth Street Mennonite Church where the funeral service will begin at 11:00 a.m.   Rev. Kevin Farmwald and Rev. Brenda Paetkau will officiate.      Burial will be in Violett Cemetery.   Memorial donations may be made to Walnut Hill Early Childhood Center or Goshen Care at Home Hospice.