Helen (Bell) Kaplan
Dec 31, 1926 - Jun 4, 2014
Posted by Janet Laubhan Flickinger
http://www.havenbrookfuneralhome.com/
Helen Bell Kaplan,
87, of Norman passed away Wednesday, June 4, 2014 in Oklahoma City. She was
born December 31, 1926 to Victor Lee and Savella Mae (Reed) Bell in Chickasaw,
AL.
Helen loved dancing and while attending a USO dance, she met William Sol “Bill”
Kaplan. They were married on November 22, 1947 in Mobile, AL. Helen and Bill
raised three sons together as they moved to different parts of the country,
changing addresses 56 times before settling in Norman in 1991. Helen was in the
Subway restaurant business with her sons for 20 years in Norman until 2006.
She loved traveling with her family, especially to the Alabama Gulf Coast.
Other than family, Helen’s greatest passion in life was dancing. In their early
years Helen and Bill won many Jitter Bug contests, which explains why one of her
favorite TV shows was Dancing with the Stars. In later years, it was not
uncommon for her to dance with a broom or her walker. She also looked forward to
a friendly game of Scrabble, poker or bowling. Helen was an avid Facebook user
and loved keeping in contact with friends and family all over the world.
Whether you knew her as Mom, Aunt Helen, Grandma, Mama Kaplan or GiGi, she will
always be remembered by her motto, “I hope you dance.”
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 47 years, Bill;
daughter-in-law, Joan Kaplan; brother, George William “Billy” Bell; and sister,
Doris Wheyland.
Helen is survived by her three sons, Steve Kaplan, Randy Kaplan
and wife Andrea, and Russ Kaplan and wife Emily Dutcher Kaplan, all of Norman;
brother, Jack Bell and wife Shirley of Bishop, GA; and sister-in-law, Emily Bell
of Ono Island, AL; five grandchildren, Seth Kaplan and wife Toni, Sara Kaplan
and husband Matt Runkle, Joe Kaplan, Sam Kaplan, and Millie Kaplan; one great
grandchild, Stella Runkle; and a host of extended family and friends.
Visitation for will be from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Sunday, June 8, 2014.
Funeral services will begin at 10 a.m., Monday, June 9, 2014 at the Havenbrook
Funeral Home Chapel, 3401 Havenbroook Street in Norman, Reverend Alan Sutherland
officiating with interment following at Sunset Memorial Park Cemetery in
Norman.
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