Helen Glenda Ross Schaefer Wilbourne

Beloved Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Sister, and Friend Helen passed peacefully into the loving arms of our Heavenly Father the afternoon of March 11, 2022, at her home in Corona, CA. She is survived by her husband of nearly 49 years, Revy Wilbourne, sister Kathryn Jacobson, three sons Phillip (Laurie) Schaefer, Perry (Barbara) Schaefer, Paul (Tracey) Schaefer, daughter Penny Parrish, and her 15 grandchildren Brandon, Gabrielle, Ben, Rachelle, Lara (Bryce), Victoria (Billy), Noelle (Josh), Elise, Katie, Cody, Sam, and Hope. Helen was preceded in death by her first husband Eugene Schaefer in 1971. Helen was born in South Dakota in 1934 to her parents Glenn and Opal Ross. She grew up in the small town of St. Lawrence with her two older sisters, two older brothers, and younger sister Kathy. Her father worked at the town's grain elevator and farmed part-time and her mother was kept busy raising the six children. It was here during the depression years where Helen learned what it meant to work hard and to share with those in need, and as a young girl she put her faith in her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. In 1955 she met her future husband Eugene and they were married in St. Lawrence in 1956. For their honeymoon they traveled to San Antonio Texas where Helen would meet her In-laws for the first time. Then they moved to Huntsville AL where their son Phillip was born, then to Minneapolis MN where Perry was born, then to Austin TX where Paul was born, and finally to Corona CA where their daughter Penny was born. Four children in four different States! As soon as they moved to Corona in 1962 the family started attending the First Baptist Church, where Helen made many lifelong friends and served faithfully in numerous ministries. The bonds made at First Baptist proved to be a precious blessing when Eugene tragically passed away in 1971. Helen's friends and the Church family comforted and helped her and her children through that difficult time. A new chapter in Helen's life began when she married her second husband Revy Wilbourne in 1973. Over the years they enjoyed traveling together and while Helen continued serving at First Baptist, they also became very involved with Compassion International as Volunteer Event Facilitators. Through their efforts over twenty-eight years thousands of children were sponsored. Helen's heart for serving others reflected one of her favorite Bible verses, which says: "And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'" (Matt 25:40) Helen loved and served her Lord and Savior all her life and she is now in His presence. We are confident that when she saw Him, He said to her: "well done, good and faithful servant" (Matt 25:21) Helen's graveside memorial service will be on Thursday, April 14th at 12:00 noon at Crestlawn Memorial Park at 11500 Arlington Ave, Riverside CA 92505. Friends are welcome to join the family at the service and at a reception to be held afterwards at the home of Perry and Barbara. Please wear comfortable, colorful clothes in celebration of Helen's life. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to Compassion International. Cemetery Crestlawn Memorial Park 11500 Arlington Ave. Riverside, California 92505 (951) 689-1441 | Thursday 4/14, 12:00 pm