Helms, Joel W., age 76, of Gadsden, AL, passed away on Monday, April 28. He was retired as the owner of Professional Opticians of Gadsden. He was a longtime member of St. James Catholic Church, the Gadsden Lions Club, the Gadsden Quarterback Club, and the Knights of Columbus. He owned and operated Professional Opticians for 34 years, retiring in 1991. Joel served in the United States Navy where he met his wife, Addie, while serving in Hawaii.
Joel was born July 27, 1931, in Cherokee County, AL. He was preceded in death by his parents, Boston N. (Boss) and Leona Helms, his daughter, Janice Marie Helms, and brothers, Jack, Hobart, Jerry, Brodus, Larry, and Dale Helms.
He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Addie, his daughters, Linda Bodine and Nancy (Jon) Ryan, and his son, David (Sharron) Helms. He is also survived by eight grandchildren - Jason Bodine, Kacie (Kevin) Beck, Nate Bodine, Randy (Vanessa) Ryan, Valerie (Ryan) Matson, Neil Ryan, Jennifer (Clay) Collins and Bradley Helms; five great grandchildren - Kirsten and Abby Holderfield, Andrew Beck, Serena Ryan, and Jake Matson; two brothers, Don (Lanita) Helms and Harland Helms; and a host of nieces and nephews and sisters and brothers-in-law.
Joel was the founder of the Alabama Lions Eye and Tissue Bank in 1966, originally located in Gadsden, and later moved to the Eye Foundation Hospital in Birmingham in 1969. He was President of Alabama Lion's Sight Conservation Association in 1969-70. He was awarded the Melvin Jones Fellowship, the highest award in Lionism, for his tireless efforts in sight conservation and restoration. Some of his other Lion's awards included The Founder's Award, several International President's Awards, and Distinguished Service Awards. During his years of active service to the community, Joel helped to correct thousands of people's eyesight as an Ophthalmic Assistant in Surgery with Dr. Michael McIntyre and Dr. Hugh Nickson and then fitting them with eyeglasses as a Board Certified Optician. Joel was instrumental in starting the Gadsden Lion's Eye Clinic in 1965. The Lions of Etowah County renamed the Eye Clinic the Joel W. Helms Lion's Eye Clinic in his honor in 2004.
After retirement, Joel enjoyed cooking dinner for his family, playing golf, fishing with his son and grandson, and playing cards with his "buddies" at the Gadsden Country Club. Joel was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and friend. He has left a lasting legacy for this world through his contribution to sight conservation and other selfless acts of kindness and concern for his fellow man. He loved life and lived it to the fullest. To his family and most of his friends, he was "Papa Joe". He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
Pallbearers will be Kevin Beck, Tim Campbell, Clay Collins, Ken Cunningham, Scott Hutchinson, Dana Loconto, Ryan Matson, and Grant Ratliff. Honorary pallbearers are Dr. H. B. Thompson and staff, Dr. Larry Grimes, Dr. Michael McIntyre, all present and former employees of Professional Opticians, members of the Gadsden Lion's Club, and his "card room buddies" at the Gadsden Country Club.
Visitation will be held tonight from 6-8 pm at Crestwood Memorial Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held Thursday morning at 10 am at St. James Catholic Church followed by burial in Crestwood Memorial Cemetery. The celebrant for the Mass will be Rev. Thomas Kelly, pastor of St. James. The concelebrant will be Rev. Andrew Kennedy, pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Birmingham. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Joel W. Helms Lion's Eye Clinic, P.O. Box 1069, Gadsden, AL 35902. Crestwood Memorial Funeral Home directing.