Helen Pearl Gunn

Helen Pearl Gunn, 88, of Astoria, died Sunday, Nov. 18, 2012, in Astoria.

She was born May 23, 1924, in Astoria, to Barnard A. Bruce Jr. and Frances M. (Calkins) Bruce.

Raised in Astoria, she graduated from Astoria High School in 1942.

She began her nurse’s training from 1942 until April 1944, then enlisted into the U.S. Coast Guard on May 23, 1944, as a corpsman. Following her discharge, she began working at Pacific Telephone and Telegraph as a telephone operator, then worked in the business office.

On March 18, 1950, she married George Isaac Gunn in Astoria, at the First United Methodist Church. He survives, residing in Astoria.

In 1971, Mrs. Gunn began working as a cook for the Astoria School District, where she stayed until 1986. She then worked at the Joint Apprentice Training Command (Lineman School) at Camp Rilea in Warrenton for 12 years.

She was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Astoria and the N.W. Women’s Veterans Association.

Family members said her hobbies included knitting, crocheting, gardening, sewing and volunteering.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Charles and Ursula Gunn of Astoria; two daughters and one son-in-law, Mary Gunn of Astoria and Georgia Lynn and Alma Lynn Savage of Atlanta; five grandchildren, Melanie Frazer and her husband, Michael, of Savannah, Ga., Janine Gunn of Bend, Colleen Gunn of Astoria, and Jolyn Savage and Rodney Gunn and his wife, Melissa, all of Atlanta; four great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by three brothers, Alonzo E. and Joseph F. Bruce, and Barnard A. Bruce Jr.; and a sister, Alice M. Fowler.

A memorial will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 30, at the First United Methodist Church in Astoria.

Memorial contributions may be given to the First United Methodist Church Memorial Fund, 1076 Franklin Ave. Astoria, OR 97103; Loaves and Fishes, 565 12th St., Astoria, OR 97103; or the Veterans of Foreign Wars at www.vfw.org/Contribute

Caldwell’s Luce-Layton Mortuary in Astoria is in charge of the arrangements. An online guest book may be signed at www.caldwellsmortuary.com