Helen Gross Pontius King

Helen Gross Pontius King, 69, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania died peacefully at home in Churchill surrounded by her family after a sixteen-year battle with cancer on September 22. Helen was born in Houston, Texas in 1955 to Mary Lou and Robert Gilmore Pontius and moved to Pittsburgh in 1957, where she lived throughout the rest of her life. She graduated from Fox Chapel High School in 1973 and earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Pittsburgh. Over the course of her career, she worked at Transcare, Mercy Hospital, Prudential Life Insurance, United Healthcare, and Citizens Bank. Helen loved reading, writing, swimming, traveling, and spending time with her children and grandchildren. Her most recent trips included trips to Florida, California, Belgium, Mexico, France, Greece, Turkey, Panama, Jamaica and Canada. Helen spent many hours volunteering at several organizations, including Allegheny County Court Watch, Oasis Tutoring, and Allegheny CleanWays. She is survived by Elijha David King her husband of forty-six years, her sons David (Alyssa), Andrew (Pauline) and Neal King, and nine King grandchildren—Desmond, Desean, Malayah, Baylee, Gianna, Dominic, Kennedy, Garrett, and Gabriel—sisters Diane Pontius (Hassan Ildari), Louisa Wunder (Dennis), Joan Pontius (Filip Braeckman) and her brother Gil Pontius. Preceding her in death are her parents. In lieu of flowers, for those desiring, memorial contributions can be made to ACPMP Appendix Cancer Research Foundation 751 Sproul Road #1057 Springfield, PA 19064. Memorial services are scheduled for Heinz Chapel at University of Pittsburgh Saturday, November 16th, at 9:30 AM. Reception to follow. Arrangements entrusted to Slater Funeral & Cremation Services, Inc. Sharpsburg.