Mrs. Helen Jane Penninger Waller, 95, died on Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015, at Trinity Oaks in Salisbury.

She was born Jan. 4, 1920 in Rowan County to the late Joel Franklin Penninger Sr. and Ada Mae Miller Penninger. She was a life long member of Cooleemee Presbyterian Church where she had served as Sunday school teacher, treasurer and moderator of the Presbyterian Women. She graduated from Woodleaf High School in 1937 as valedictorian and earned the Civitan Club Citizenship award. She was employed by Erwin Mills (later Burlington Industries) for 42 years until her retirement in 1985. Her hobbies were ceramics, making baskets and sourdough rolls.

She was also preceded in death by: her husband in 2000, Grier Cline Waller, to whom she married Sept. 6, 1941; 4 brothers, William, Robert, Joel and Otis Penninger; and 2 sisters, Ruth Haire and Barbara Jean Bradley.

Survivors: a daughter, Gale Overcash and husband Gary, and a grandson, Kevin Overcash, all of Woodleaf; 2 great-grandchildren, Hayley and Hunter Overcash and their mother, Robin Overcash of Salisbury; a sister, Bonnie Miller of Statesville; a brother in law, Bill Bradley of Illinois; and a number of nieces, nephews and cousins.

A funeral service was conducted at 11 a.m., Wednesday, Dec. 30 at Eaton Funeral Chapel in Mocksville with the Rev. John Groff officiating. Burial followed in Rowan Memorial Park in Salisbury. The family received friends one hour prior to the service.

Memorials: Cooleemee Presbyterian, PO Box 27, Cooleemee.

Condolences: www.eatonfuneralservice.com.