Helen Darves Dalton

July 24, 2017

Helen Dalton, whose cheerful face greeted customers at Dalton’s Department Store for decades, died at 95 years of age on July 24, 2017 at CareHaven of Pleasants, Belmont, West Virginia. With her husband Clyde Cecil Dalton Jr., Helen proudly owned and operated Dalton’s Department Store in Clendenin and Clay, West Virginia for three decades. Their January, June and September buying trips to New York’s garment district were among Helen’s most exciting moments, as they included the sights of the city from Radio City Music Hall to the Waldorf Astoria and Empire State Building. The oldest daughter of Greek immigrant parents Thomas and Konstantina Darves, she was born September 20, 1921, in Charleston, West Virginia. Her parents founded and operated Coney Island Lunch restaurant in Clendenin, a family eatery where Helen and her siblings worked as soon as they could peer over the counter. Open for 27 years, Coney Island was beloved for its onion, mustard, and homemade chili sauce-slathered hot dogs, batter-dipped fish sandwiches, featuring fresh fish from New York City, and made-from-scratch pies. Helen was a graduate of Clendenin High School and attended West Virginia Wesleyan, where she was a member of the national sorority Alpha Xi Delta. She remained exceptionally close friends with both high school and college classmates, and truly epitomized the Proverbs 17:17, “A friend loves at all times.” The family and many friends of Helen would describe her as the personification of hospitality, kindness, thoughtfulness, and caring. Devoted to her Clendenin United Methodist Church, in 1990 she was recognized as “United Methodist Woman of the Year.” She served as President of the church’s Merry Workers Circle for ten years. Helen was preceded in death by her devoted husband Clyde, cherished son Joseph Warren, her brother Fofo, who died at five years of age, and beloved brother Andrew. Surviving Helen are the wonderful members of her family and extended family, whom she loved dearly: daughter Amelia Dalton; sister Georgia Darves Rollins; sister-in-law Frances Darves; special devoted niece and husband Jo Ann and Max Powell; granddaughter Sara Dalton and three great-grandchildren, Cierra, Charles III, and Christian; namesake Lyndsey Dalton Gallian Madison; and godchildren Glenn Austin Summers and Carrie Summers Dysart. She is also survived by nieces and nephews and their children: Dr. Thomas Rollins (Dr. Deborah Konitsney); Dr. Nita Rollins; Malania Rollins; Timothy Rollins (Jennifer), Elaina Georgette, Audrey Darves; Constance Darves Nester (Dr. Thomas Nester), Kara, Cameron; Andrew Thomas Darves (Janet), Anika Darves Mullins (Mark); Catherine Darves (Richard Rogers); Dr. John Westfall (Pat), Chad Westfall (Caitlin), Jack, Will; Dr. Lauren Veltri (Dr. Vincent Veltri); Helen Jane Westfall Kennedy (Kent), Keri Shamblin, Kati Skeen, Kristin Reed, John Kennedy; Jo Ann Powell (Max), Matthew and son Avery; Michael (Meghan), Georgia, Circe, Estella, Evangeleen; and Ryan (Rachel), Aiden, Axton. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Clendenin United Methodist Church, PO Box 686, Clendenin, WV 25045. (Email: [email protected]) Visitation will be held 11-1 p.m. at the Clendenin United Methodist Church. Funeral service will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, July 29, at the church, with the Reverend Scott Ferguson officiating. Burial will be immediately after the service at Koontz Cemetery, Clendenin, followed by a reception at the church. Matics Funeral Home, Clendenin, is handling the funeral arrangements. Online condolences may be made at maticsfuneralhome.com.