Andy Helton, 73, of Waco, passed away Monday, February 10, 2020 at The Delaney at Lake Waco with family at his side.
Visitation: 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, February 18, at Lake Shore Funeral Home
Funeral Service: 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, February 18, at Lake Shore Funeral Home
Allen Anderson “Andy” Helton, Jr., was born April 25, 1946 in Lincoln, NE to CWO3 Allen A. Helton and Betty Maxine Bennett Helton.
Andy grew up in an Air Force family, moving with his father’s assignments in Nebraska, Arizona, Idaho, New Hampshire, and South Carolina. The family retired to Lincoln, Nebraska,where he finished high school and then joined the Marine Corps. As a Private First Class out of boot camp, Andy achieved his platoon’s “High Rifle” award and went on to Advanced Infantry Training. Promoted to Lance Corporal, Andy then went on to train in jungle warfare in Central America before being deployed to Vietnam. Andy was a Recon Marine, Alpha First Force radio operator, assigned with the Korean Marines in the northern highlands. There he sustained injuries, was medically evacuated to South Korea, then to the Great Lakes Naval Hospital, where he spent a year recovering from his injuries, including a deflated lung.
After his rehabilitation, Andy worked jobs as a bartender, ski instructor, installing house gutters, and framing carpenter and roofer. After graduating from the University of Nebraska with a business degree, Andy worked in sales for a pharmaceutical company.
Andy traveled to Texas where his parents had relocated and became a financial advisor for Merrill Lynch in Waco in 1978. He married the love of his life, Dee Sherman in 1985 in Ravenna, NE and they have lived in Waco since. Andy was a highly respected financial advisor for over 38 years with Merrill Lynch and UBS with many clients in Waco, central Texas, and in many other states.
Andy’s interests included scouting (he was an Eagle Scout), baseball and softball, water and snow skiing, white water rafting, backpacking, sky diving, mountain climbing, fly tying and fishing, music, hunting, flying, and Nebraska football. You could not stump him at trivia, though many tried.
Andy was a 32nd degree Mason and was a past Master of the James H. Lockwood Lodge in Waco. He was a member of Jack Sparks’ Fly Fishing Club, Jaycees, and city league softball in Waco.
Andy contracted throat cancer in 2000 but beat the cancer with treatment at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. He survived the cancer but the treatment caused life changing medical issues that he battled until his body could no longer sustain him.
Andy was preceded in death by his father, CWO3 Allen A. Helton; mother, Betty B. Helton; and sister, Kathleen L. Helton-Lange.
He is survived by his wife, Dee Sherman Helton; brother, David Helton of Canyon Lake and his wife, Cindy; brother, Paul Helton of Bates City, MO and his wife, Susan Whittemore Helton; nephews, Jason Helton of Denver, CO, and Karl Lange; nieces, Eleonore Lange Dudley and Lori Lange DeLeon; and myriad cousins, mostly in the Groom and Amarillo, TX area.
Honorary pallbearers will be Dennis “Bert” Curran, Steve Browning, Stanton Bussell, Ron “Magic” Kirkendall, Paul Brannen, and Roger Leisy.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to MD Anderson Head and Neck Clinic in Houston; the Wounded Warrior Project, or Habitat for Humanity.
Thoughts and memories may be shared at www.LakeShoreFH.com
Place of Service: Lake Shore Funeral Home , 5201 Steinbeck Bend; Waco, TX 76708
Print Obituary & Condolences
So sorry to here about Andy.So many great memories of Riverfests in Austin.Sending hugs to Dee.This is James Erls ex.
Debbie We also have many wonderful memories of our times together in Austin. Ill never forget the first meal Andy ate after his treatment was at Erin’s wedding in OK It was chicken & dumplins
A life of humility so very well lived, leaving nothing to regret. Truly, I never heard him complain about anything.
Such good times were had whenever Andy was around.
My heart goes out to Dee, David, and all who were lucky to know him.
I’m grateful that his hard times are over, but such a loss. There’s certain to be a great party in Heaven. <3
Dot
Andy so enjoyed hearing from you again and your sending the great articles about Casey’s He stayed positive til the very end
Andy so enjoyed hearing from you again & your sending the articles about Casey’s He stayed positive til the very end
Dee…….. I share with you the pain of the loss of Andy, and my thoughts and prayers are with you.
Bob
Thank you for thinking of us during this time of sadness Andy had so many friends from so many walks of life
Dear Dee and family, all our love and he is in our prayers.
Greg and Sandy Peters, Lincoln
Greg & Sandy
Thank you so much for the thoughts and prayers Andy always gave Greg credit for the advise he gave him to help him get the job in Waco
I feel fortunate to have known Andy and Dee through Bert and Sally. What a wonderful man. What a sad, sad loss.
Kelley
Andy felt fortunate to know many of our friends children He will be dearly missed at the rude family get togethers
To Andy’s family, sorry for your loss. Got to know Andy at Lincoln High School. Again, sorry for your loss, God Bless.
Roger Ripley
Roger
Thank you for your condolence message I was not fortunate enough to meet many of Andys highschool friends I once asked him if he would like to attend a reunion and his response was which one as he attended 5 high schools
So sorry to hear of the loss of our neighbor and friend Andy. He was a kind person who often collected the papers for us when we went out of town. He taught us how to manage our new John Deere lawnmower among other neighborly things. We will sincerely miss him. Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to Dee and family. Our prayers are with you.
Wanda
Thank you for thinking of me during this time of sadness Your kind words are of great comfort to me Andy was always eager to lend a hand
Dee, so sorry for the loss of Andy – our thoughts and prayers are with you
Greg & Sandy Peters
Dear Dee and family. I am so sorry to hear about Andy’s death. He and Joe were great friends and he was always so kind and considerate, a true gentleman. I know you miss him terribly and I will remember you in my thoughts and prayers.
Denise
Thank you for thinking of us during this time of sadness Andy had the utmost respect for Joe and valued his friendship very much
As as a friend of Dave and Cindy and as AF retired Veveteran our thoughts and prayers go out to friends and family.
Thank you for your thoughts and prayers for a Brother Mason. The service provided by the local Masonic Lodge was incredibly beautiful. Thank you for thinking of us during this time of grief.
Dee,
We are very sorry to hear about the passing of your husband. Please let us know if there is anything which we can do to help you. May he rest in peace.
Bobby & Sharon Rios
Bobby & Sharon
It is so thoughtful of you to think of me during this time of sadness Your willingness to help is of great comfort to me
So sorry for the loss of Andy. We feel fortunate to have known Andy. He is on our prayers.
Andy considered himself fortunate to have wonderful clients and friends like you Thank you for your words of condolence
Heartbroken to hear of Andy’s passing. With much grief and sorrow I offer prayers and condolences to Dee, David and Paul and their families and friends. RIP my old and good friend, I’ll ALWAYS miss you. -Steele
Bob Steele
Andy never gave up on his friends! He truly valued the friendships he made throughout his adventurous life We will all miss him dearly
Mr. Helton was one of the nicest individuals I knew. I was a blessing to have known him. Thoughts and prayers to his family.
Bobby
Thank you for your kind words during this time of sadness Andy valued the friendship of you and your family very much
A tree has been planted in Andy Heltons name.
Mr. Helton was a big part of our family for as long as I can remember. He was a wonderful human being and will be greatly missed. May he Rest In Peace and God bless his family.
Kiran
Thank you for your kind words during this time of sadness Andy thought the world of you and your family
I’m so very sorry to hear of Andy’s passing. He was such a great guy and we always had so much fun when he came to Austin to visit us. He was so sweet & funny, always so happy with a big smile and never complained or had an unkind word to say about anything or anyone. My sincerest condolences to Dee, Dave & Cindy and the rest of his family. RIP, dear Andy. ❤️
Wilma,
Thank you for your thoughts and prayers for Andy’s passing, and we appreciate your thoughts and prayers. He was indeed a great guy and friend who always treasured his friends; and he was a very special brother.
Dave Helton & Family
I was a college roommate and friend to Andy while we attended the University of Nebraska. He was a bold and fun friend! When Andy and I were still in school we planned with 2 other friends to fly to a Nebraska game in Texas. While flying in north Oklahoma in a 4 seat airplane, the young pilot (Ron Bassett) who was not instrument rated flew into fog. Ron became disoriented and if it hadn’t been for his “co-pilot” (Dick Payton) we would not have survived. It was the most frightening experience in my life as Andy and I were in the back two seats and could only pray for a miracle. After calling out “mayday” over and over we reached a control tower in Gage, Oklahoma and they talked us down. Great memory! The last time Andy and I saw each other was in Waco over 35 years ago. So sad to discover just today, when doing a name search on Google, that Andy left us earlier this year. God speed Andy!