Obituary

Helen fitzwater lodge of charleston, wv, following a courageous battle, succumbed to ovarian cancer on may 23, 2015. Helen was preceded in death by her parents, mr. And mrs. Howard watson fitzwater of falls view; sister, betty f. Carson; sister, melba lou white and husband, bill; beloved nephew, john white; and, her beloved, dr. Willard pushkin.
She is survived by her dear brother-in-law, thomas l. Carson of charleston; nieces, alice lee white of pooler, ga (with whom she shared a special love and relationship since alice’s birth) and elizabeth ann neese of montgomery; nephew, bill of hurricane, and scores of wonderful, caring friends.  helen was a graduate of wvuit and received her master’s degree from marshall university. She was the consummate and passionate volunteer, managing her volunteer schedule much like she did her professional career “” with knowledge, skill, fortitude, grace and indefatigable spirit.
A montgomery, wv, native, helen was well-known for her local, state and national services to the arts, health and nutrition, education and humanitarian causes.  helen had a successful 28-year career at camc, where she served as the director of dietetics and food services. In addition, she served as director of food services for the arthur b. Hodges nursing home and coordinated the job corps for women’s training program at camc. Putting camc food services out front in innovation was another matter of pride for helen. Gourmet themed dinners, elaborate holiday specialties and simply raising the bar of hospital nutrition will be part of her career legacy.
Throughout her career, helen made volunteering a priority, while also doing extensive consulting in hospitals in new york, new jersey, connecticut, pennsylvania and wv. Among helen’s proudest achievements, she influenced the 1964 wv legislature to mandate that all newborns be tested for pku (phenylketonuria). Early detection and treatment of this condition can greatly reduce the risk of intellectual disabilities.
A celebration of helen’s life will be held at 1 p.M. Thursday, may 28 at the clay center for the arts and sciences of wv with rabbi victor urecki, b’nai jacob synagogue, presiding. Visitation will take place at the clay center two hours prior to the service, with a musical presentation and reception. Burial will be at the montgomery memorial park at london, wv, where “the fitzwater sisters” will be together again.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the wv symphony or wv youth symphony, p.O. Box 2292, charleston, wv 25328; b’nai jacob synagogue, 1599 lee street, east, charleston, wv 25311; or to a charity of one’s choice.
Condolences may be sent to the family directly, thomas l. Carson, 4106 virginia ave. Se, charleston, wv 25304, or online, www.Barlowbonsall.Com.
Arrangements entrusted to barlow bonsall funeral home, charleston.