David L. Helms

David L. Helms, age 70, of Grove, OK, passed quietly from this life to the next on Wednesday, January 25, 2023. Dave was born on August 10, 1952, to Charles and Ruby (Johnson) Helms in Afton, OK. He attended Miami High School and in 1970 he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. He was an Alaskan Tactical Air Command Airframe Structural Repair(E-7) Specialist Skin man SSGT. In 1982, Dave married the love of his life, Beverly Hoelscher in Kauai. While in the Air Force, Dave realized his passion for helping amputees. And decided to go to school to work with prosthetics. He attended the University of Alaska, Tulane University, Delgado Junior College, Northwestern University Medical School in Chicago, UCLA, and New York University Medical School. He was determined to become the best at his craft and worked unwaveringly to achieve it. In 1996, Dave and family opened Grand Prosthetics and Orthotics Lightweight Artificial Limbs and Braces in Grove, Oklahoma and he was currently practicing until his passing. Dave was generous with his time and efforts and was involved in many civic organizations and programs to improve the City of Grove, Partners for Progress in 1997, Leadership Grove, Rotary International and Paul Harris Fellow, Grand Lake Association, Veteran’s Memorial Moving Wall, Grove City Council, Municipal Service, Industrial Development and Airport Board. He worked with the first Robotics League FLL Jr High and FRC High School and in 2007 received a lifetime achievement award from the Grand Lake Association. Out of all of his accomplishments, Dave’s crowning achievement was procuring an F4 Fighter Jet with Pete Norwood and relocating it to Grove where it is proudly displayed as a tribute to our freedom and all service men and women. Some would describe Dave as quietly extraordinary. He was generous and caring with a servant’s heart but at the same time was fearless, focused and determined; and worked tirelessly to achieve the causes that he set his heart to. Building prosthetics was his calling. To be able to restore a person’s ability to walk or function independently was a gift that he never tired of sharing. It’s difficult to estimate how many lives that he touched in his near 50 years of practicing. CARS; that’s what comes to many people’s mind when they hear the name “Dave Helms”. Dave loved cars. He loved building and restoring them. He loved driving and racing them, and most of all he loved sharing that common interest with his boys. Dave was preceded in death by his parents. Left to carry on his legacy, wife of 40 years, Beverly Helms; sons: Andy Helms and Troy Helms and wife, Amber and Andy’s son, Brady Helms, all of Grove. Donations may be made to the maintenance and improvement of the F4 Phantom Jet in care of American Legion Post #178; 3rd & O’Daniel Pkwy; P.O. Box 450203,Grove, OK 74345. A Celebration of Dave’s life will be at 2pm Friday, January 27, 2023 at Nichols-Stephens Funeral Chapel

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David L. Helms

August 10, 1952 - January 25, 2023