Helen Rosemary Hinson, 85, of Jacksonville, Florida, was born on September 11, 1932 in Brooklyn, NY. She passed away in the Haven Hospice care center on Monday, October 9, 2017 due to stroke related complications.
Helen was the only child of Henry Merz and Mary Wolf-Merz. Her parents immigrated separately to the United States from Germany then met in New York where they married in 1929, and eventually became US citizens in 1949.
In 1941, at age 9, both of her parents became employed with the New York Association for the Blind located at 111 East 57th Street New York, N.Y. Her father was the building superintendent and her mother was in charge of food services until 1952. Since they lived in the building during those years, she had the opportunity of meeting Helen Keller and other famous people. After graduating high school, Mom went to work for the phone company as a switchboard operator.
Helen married Edward M. Patterson in Selden NY, on September 29, 1951. Edward served in the US Navy and they settled in Atlantic Beach Florida in 1961 when he was station to the Mayport Naval base. They were married for 23 years. They had two children, Mark Patterson and Robin Patterson. She worked at the Navy Exchange and as a purchasing agent for the Recreation Department, Naval Air Station, Mayport, Florida. She retired in April of 1997 after 27 years of service.
Helen married Bill Lee Hinson on February 8, 1986 in Atlantic Beach, Florida. Bill passed away on January 31, 1997. She did not remarry.
Bill and Helen enjoyed taking cruises but after Bill passed Helen enjoyed her solitude spending time on her computer, watching TV or walking her dog Spanky. She was an animal lover having several dogs and cats over the years.
She was very organized even to a fault. She would put way items we were using when doing repairs or installing things while we were still using them. She loved her family and she was very generous. She made the best macaroni salad ever.
Helen lives on in the hearts of her son Mark Patterson (Susie); daughter Robin Patterson; stepdaughter Margie Vest (Patrick Bailey); granddaughter Taryn Earnest (Dereck Marinich); great grandson Jacob Earnest; great granddaughter Maya Marinich; cousin Maria Shebetich (Nicholas).

Service Times: There will be a graveside service at 11:00 am on 10/28/2017 at Arlington Park Cemetery and Funeral Home, 6920 Lone Star Road, Jacksonville, Florida.

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