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Promoted to Glory
Lt. Colonel Helen Waara
Lt. Colonel Helen Waara, 96, was promoted to Glory June 23 in Sacramento, California.
Born in Hancock, Mich., on September 11, 1908, Helen Carolyn Waara attended the Army as a child. She saw the call to officership as “seeing the need.” Entering training from Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., she was commissioned in 1929 with the Centenary Session. In 1935, Helen was appointed to Chicago and began a long career in Army social work, mentoring many over the years.
Following World War II, Adjutant Waara was on loan for rehabilitation work in France. She returned to direct the Army’s Chicago Family Services Bureau. In 1953 Waara received a BS degree in Sociology from Loyola University, and in 1958 earned a MA degree from the Univ. of Chicago in Social Service Administration.
Helen received the rank of Lt. Colonel in 1962 and was made the territorial social welfare secretary in 1966. She retired from active service in 1968, having helped pioneer the foundation for the social work that exists today in The Salvation Army Central Territory.
Retiring to California, she worked for seven years in the Alameda City welfare office. Then she moved to Sacramento, where she was active in the corps. Helen ran the soup kitchen and the Toys for Tots program, and worked for the homeless. The city of Sacramento recognized her for her contributions.
The funeral service was held at the Sacramento Citadel Corps with Brigadier Bob Yardley officiating and Corps Officer Captain Osei Stewart presiding.
Messages of sympathy may be sent to the family at 3320 Windsor Drive, Sacramento, CA 95864-3829.
Mrs. Brigadier Marjory Koch
Mrs. Brigadier (Albert) Marjory Koch was promoted to Glory June 26 from the hospital in Oak Harbor, Wash.
Born August 7, 1913 in Traverse City, Michigan, Marjory Mirovsky became a junior soldier as a teenager. She heard the call to officership at her first Young People’s Council and was commissioned in 1935 with the Challenge Session of cadets. After appointments as a single officer, she married Captain Albert Koch in 1938. They served together in numerous assignments in the Central Territory.
She attended the International College for Officers in 1957.
When she retired she was divisional League of Mercy secretary, Wisconsin/Upper Michigan Division, and territorial representative on aging.
After retirement, Brigadiers Albert and Marjory Koch were active at the Sacramento Citadel Corps until recent years when their health began to decline.
Marjory is survived by her husband, Albert; two sons: Envoy Gerald (Janice) Koch, Ronald (Aija) Koch; one daughter, Shari (Bob) Harrison; eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
A memorial service was held at the Oak Harbor Christian Reform Church.
Messages of sympathy may be sent to Brigadier Albert Koch, c/o McKinley No. Whidbey AFH, 4399 Cerullo, Oak Harbor, WA 98277-9432.
Mrs. Lillian Holmes
Salvation Army soldier, Mrs. Lillian Holmes, was promoted to Glory June 4 from the hospital in Sacramento, California. Born in Montreal, Canada, she was an Army soldier for over 80 years, 60 of those at the Sacramento Citadel Corps. She would have celebrated her 93rd birthday on June 15.
Mrs. Holmes is survived by two sons: former Western officer now serving in the South, Major Lawrence (Thelma) Holmes, Jacksonville, Florida; and Mr. Frank (Lenora) Holmes, Swiss Home, Oregon; one daughter: Mrs. Marian (John) Hammitt, Galt, California; 14 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren. Her husband and two sons preceded her in death.
Funeral services were held at the Sacramento Citadel Corps.
Cards and messages may be sent to Majors Lawrence and Thelma Holmes, 4440 Charter Point Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32277.
Jim Henthorne
Soldier Jim Henthorne, most recently of the Broomfield, Colorado corps, and former corps sergeant major of the Boulder Corps, was peacefully promoted to Glory on May 29, 2005.
Born March 17, 1920, in Parkersburg, West Virginia, Jim was orphaned at a young age and ended up living on the street. He adjusted to his life and somehow managed to attend school and get an education.
After high school, he joined the Air Force. During his years of service, he often felt the Lord’s protective hands upon him.
Later, Jim moved to Boulder, where one day in a cafeteria he noticed a couple wearing Salvation Army uniforms. Curious, he spoke to them, and A/Captains Evelyn and James Smith, Boulder corps officers, told him about the Army and shared the gospel; before he left the cafeteria, he had accepted Jesus as his savior.
Jim became a soldier of the Boulder Corps and later the corps sergeant major. Eventually he moved to the Silvercrest residence in Broomfield, where he continued to serve the Lord at the Broomfield Corps.
His spirit remained strong even as his health declined, and he was visiting friends up until the day before his death.
A graveside service was held in Fort Lupton and a memorial service at the Silvercrest, with Majors Daniel and Carole Abella officiating.
Jim is survived by his nephew, Jules Barton Henthorne and his family.