Obituary: Dr. Vernon Donald Don Helms | The Daily Courier

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Dr. Vernon Donald Don Helms, a retired school superintendent, administrator and teacher, passed away at home on February 7, 2023 at the age of 84.

Beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, Don was born in Concord, California on December 9, 1938. As a child, Don’s parents moved to the San Bernardino area of ​​Southern California where he grew up playing to friends in the open fields and spaces of California at the time. He especially enjoyed talking about the hours he spent looking over the fence at the old Norton Army Airbase in San Bernardino watching WWII aircraft take off and land. Time looking over that fence fostered a strong love for aircraft and especially WWII aircraft.

After graduating from Pacific High School, Don pursued his teaching credential and was soon teaching elementary school in the San Bernardino area. During this time, Don also started a family which resulted in a son and daughter, Tim and Jill.

After several years of teaching, Don continued his education, earning his Masters Degree and Administrative Credential with the goal of moving into education administration. In 1968, Don began his doctoral studies, but longed to see the world. His solution to this quest was unique. He was recruited for and accepted the position of Superintendent of the American School in Karachi, Pakistan.

For two years, Don led the school of 400 students from around the world, mostly children of American Embassy staff and other embassies based in Karachi. He made sure that every vacation and trip to Karachi and back to the US included trips to as many countries as possible.

After leaving Pakistan, Don pursued and completed his doctorate at the University of Toledo in two years. From there, Don and the family still wanted to see the world, so he accepted the position of Principal of the American School in Athens, Greece. While in Athens, Don made sure the family continued the practice of seeing as much of the country as possible on vacations and trips abroad and back.

Seeking to secure a US high school experience for Tim and Jill, Don next accepted the position of Principal of Taft High School in Hamilton, Ohio. Don was promoted to Assistant Superintendent in Hamilton during his five years in Ohio.

Dons next challenge is to accept the position of Deputy Superintendent of Schools in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. During this time Don met the love of his life, Molly McDonough. Molly is also a Ph.D. in Education and held several Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent positions during his career. They married and lived in Louisiana until he accepted the position of Superintendent of the Corona-Norco Unified School District in Corona, California in the early 1980s.

During his time at Corona, Don was able to pursue his lifelong love of flying. He earned his pilot’s license in the late 1980s and was a co-founder of the Commemorative Air Forces Inland Empire Wing in Corona. The CAF Corona Wing was responsible for sponsoring and repairing several WWII-era aircraft to flight status that are now on tour with the Commemorative Air Force displays.

Don and Molly travel the world for fun but also for the various educational consulting assignments they are both hired to perform, either individually or as a team.

Don’s last assignment before retirement was Superintendent of the Placerville School District in Placerville, California. Don retired in 2002, although he continued to engage in various types of educational consulting into his late 70s. Don and Molly finally made their final move in 2018 to Prescott, Arizona to be near family in their final years of retirement. Don was devoted to Molly and her family and loved nothing more than spending time with them talking about special memories involving his family.

Don is survived by his wife Molly of 41 years, his children, Tim Helms and his wife Susan, Jill Anderson-Wold and her husband Nick, and Melanie Newkome. Don is also survived by his grandchildren: Stephen and Holly Helms and great-grandson Aubrey; Sydney Helms; Nick and Rachel Brown; Peter and Becky Brown and great-grandchildren Bennett and Hayden; Brennan and Emily Jones and great-grandson Osce; Mariel, Molly and Emery Jones.

Don will be forever missed by those who knew and loved him.

The family will have a private remembrance gathering.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to the ALS Foundation.

Information provided by family.

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