Obituary of Helen G. Looper

Helen G. Looper, 104, of Iowa City, passed away Monday, October 26, 2015, at Oaknoll Retirement Residence, where she had resided for nearly 30 years. A memorial service will be held 2 p.m., Wednesday, November 4th in the recreation room at Oaknoll Retirement Residence. Memorials in Helen's name may be directed to the Iowa City First United Methodist Church. Helen was born February 2, 1911, in Casey, Iowa; daughter of Edward W. and Jennie (Reese) Grinnell. She graduated from Casey High School in 1929. She went on to attend the University of Iowa, graduating with her BA in Liberal Arts in 1933. After school, she taught several years in Iowa, before taking a job with the Army as a research analyst during WWII, which relocated her to Washington D.C.; where she would work at the Pentagon with Office of Army Intelligence, which later transitioned to the Defense Intelligence Agency, where she worked until her retirement in 1971. While working in D.C., she married Clarence Looper on March 13, 1948. They resided in the D.C. area until his death in 1985, and a short time later, Helen moved to Iowa City. After retirement she volunteered with the American Red Cross Blood Mobile, Meals on Wheels and various other service organizations. She was a member of Iowa City First United Methodist Church, United Methodist Women and Alpha Iota. Her family includes her nephews, James G. Galiher and his wife, Ruth Ann of Solon, Iowa and their daughter, Ashleigh Gravlee and Robert Galiher and his wife, Lola of Delhi, Iowa and their children, Michael Galiher and Kristine Galiher. She was preceded in death by her husband, parents and sisters, Irene Galiher and Eugenie Fox. Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service is caring for Helen's services.