Helen W. Spedden

Mrs. Helen Spedden, age 91, of Ellicott City, Maryland, passed away on January 29, 2018.  Mrs. Spedden was born in Baltimore City on June 1, 1926 to the late Walter Lawrence Willis and Laura Virginia Fogel Willis.  In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Robert (Bob) H. Spedden and her siblings, Virginia W. Backhaus and William Willis.

Mrs. Spedden graduated in 1944, from Western High School in Baltimore, later attending The Maryland Institute of Art.  After formal schooling, she married, and began her career with the Federal Government at Ft. Meade and Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland.  Mrs. Spedden started as a clerk-stenographer and worked her way up to Programs Directorate of Research and Engineering for the U.S. Army, retiring from civil service in 1968. 

 Helen and Bob were members of the Maryland Western Horse Association, Maryland State Quarter Horse Associations and American Painted and Pinto Association, later becoming judges in the US horse show circuit. The couple showed their beloved horses in various American Quarter Horse shows. Mr. and Mrs. Spedden resided on their horse farm together for over 60 years, until Bob’s death in 2008.  She continued to live on the farm as the pioneer woman that she always was, until her recent move to an assistant living facility, due to failing health.

Helen was the aunt of Virginia Lynn Brudzinski (Walter), Marla Backhaus (Deborah York) and Bill Willis; great aunt of Randy Brudzinksi (Shelli) and Leslye LaClaire; great great aunt of Jaclyn, Adam, Alessandro and Soren; special friend of Cindy Summers.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Helen W. Spedden, please visit our floral store.