HELM, Artis "Art" age 87 of Lebanon, Ohio passed away Sunday, June 28, 009. He was born in Liberty, Kentucky on February 6, 1922 to the late Charles and Flora (Crocket) Helm. Art was also preceded in death by sisters, Orpha, Montie, Lois, Ruth; and brothers, Arthur and Roscoe. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Lela (Witt) Helm and two children, Linda (Tom McChain) Helm of Morrow, Ohio and David (Elizabeth Cobb) Helm of Cincinnati, Ohio, three granddaughters, Heather (Morris) Goldberg, Isabelle Helm and Jillian Helm; a grandson, James Helm, and a great granddaughter, Flora Goldberg all of Cincinnati, Ohio. He is also survived by his sister-in-laws, Lucille (Walter) Alloway, Golden (Eugene) Witt, Maxine Witt, Wanda Pilkens, Barbara (Charles) Bounds, and several nieces and nephews. After graduation from Casey County (Kentucky) High School in 1942, he entered the Army Air Corp. During World War II, Art served in the 30th Bomb Group maintaining B-24's in the following combat areas; Central Pacific, Eastern Mandates, Western Pacific, Marianas, Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands and Air Offensive Japan. Artis achieved the rank of Sergeant and earned (5) bronze stars during his 26 ½ months of overseas service. He is a member of the American Legion Post #78 and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #3634 both in Liberty, Kentucky. Artis received an Associate Degree from Lindsay-Wilson College in Columbia Kentucky, his Bachelors Degree from Eastern Kentucky State Teachers College in Richmond, Kentucky and a Masters Degree in Education from Miami University. He continued studies at the University of Cincinnati and Wright State University. Artis taught school for one year in Kentucky, three years in Miamisburg, Ohio and thirteen years in West Carrollton, Ohio. He served as principal of Walter Shade Elementary School in West Carrollton, Ohio for sixteen years from 1968 through 1984. He was a lifetime member of the Ohio Education Association and National Education Association. He was an active member of St. James United Methodist Church for over 50 years and became a Kentucky Colonel in 1994. Friends may call from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Friday, July 3, 2009 at the TOBIAS FUNERAL HOME - FAR HILLS CHAPEL, 5471 Far Hills Ave., with the funeral service at 7:00 p.m. Burial will follow at Salem Cemetery in Liberty, Kentucky on Sunday, July 5. Memorial donations may be made to the West Carrollton Education Foundation or the Salem Cemetery Fund. Condolences may be left for the family at www.tobiasfuneralhome.com. Published in the Dayton Daily News from 6/30/2009 - 7/2/2009 Principal