James Monroe Helton, age 89, died on Thursday, August 23, 2018 at 2:03 p.m. at his residence in Alger, Ohio.

          He was born on June 22, 1929 in Benham, Kentucky to the late Shelby Monroe and Abbie (Estep) Helton who preceded him in death.  On February 1, 1952 Monroe married Maxine Rowe and she preceded him in death on July 10, 2004.

          Monroe retired from Ford Motor Company in 1983, where he worked for seventeen years as a welder.  He was a member of the Alger First United Methodist Church.  Monroe was a U.S. Army Veteran who served during the Korean War.  He was a Lifetime member of the Ada VFW Post #9381 and a member of the Field’s Masonic Lodge #832. Monroe was a member of the F& AM Masonic Lodge in Cumberland, Kentucky and a member of the Scottish Rite Valley of Dayton. 

          He is survived by his daughters: Athy (David) Pfeiffer of Taylors, SC, Patti (Bill) Kelly of  Deer Creek, Ohio and Donna Weber of Alger;  thirteen grandchildren, twenty-seven great-grandchildren and one great great granddaughter; and a brother, Bruce Eugene Helton of Ft. Wayne, IN.

          He was preceded in death by a daughter, Jeannie Helton in 2002 and a sister, Audrey Faye (Helton) Cowden.

          Funeral services will begin at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 29, at Hanson-Neely Funeral Home, Alger with Rev. Calvin Waugh officiating.  Burial will be in Preston Cemetery, Alger with graveside military honors conducted by the Ada VFW Post #9381 Honor Guard.

          Friends may call 2 hours prior to the service, from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 29, at Hanson-Neely Funeral Home, Alger.

          Monroe loved the Ohio State Buckeyes.  Please wear Buckeye attire to the visitation and/or the service.

          In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Alger First United Methodist Church and/or the Ohio Kidney Foundation