Helen L. Wildes

Helen L. Wildes December 23, 1929 October 24, 2012 Portland - Helen L. Wildes of Portland passed away on Wednesday, October 24, 2012 at the Barron Center, with her family by her side. Helen always said that ""Age is just a number and not who she is"". She was born in Portland, the middle child of seven children, on December 23, 1929. She was the daughter of Lewis B. and Helen K. (Ferguson) Wildes. She attended Portland schools, graduating from Portland High School in 1946. She married Charles Lewis Doyle in 1948 and they raised five children. In the late 1960's, Helen was a natural as a coordinator for the City of Portland's Model Cities Program. The Model Cities Program, part of President Lyndon B. Johnson's Great Society and War on Poverty, focused on urban rebuilding along with social service delivery and citizen participation. Helen was also a driving force behind forming many programs for women. She was on the founding board that oversaw the opening of the first Battered Women's Center in the state. During this time, she taught classes to women on how to make ends meet, apply for jobs, and how to dress and interview for jobs. She often took women to thrift stores to buy clothes for interviews, and taught them how to tailor and fit the outfits. In 1975, at the age of 45, Helen decided that if she was going to be an effective advocate for women, she should seriously consider more education. So she turned to the University of Southern Maine to purse a degree in social work, all the while working full-time and raising a family. She continued to volunteer for many organizations and groups to help abused and battered women become independent. Helen was a founding member of the 24 Hour Club, a support group for chronic alcoholic in Portland. She also worked as a caseworker for the Department of Health and Human Services, retiring in 1998. Helen's favorite trait was persistence. She would counsel people with whom she was working or volunteering, that the best approach to getting what you want is to be persistent, especially if the goal was to help others have a better life. Her favorite phrase, however was ""for the good of Womankind"". Helen is survived her children; Karen Ingram and her husband Chris of Portland; Charles (Chuck) Doyle and his wife Marion of Gray; Robert (Bob) Doyle of Old Orchard; Kathryn (Kathy) Doyle of South Portland; and Michael Doyle and his wife Cindy of Auburn. She is also survived her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Relatives and friends are invited to attend a graveside service on Friday, November 2, 2012, at 11:00 AM, at Brooklawn Cemetery, located at 2002 Congress Street in Portland. Assistance and guidance provided by A.T. Hutchins, LLC, Funeral and Cremation Services, 660 Brighton Ave in Portland. To offer words of condolence to the family, sign a guest book and share memories, go to the obituary page at www.athutchins.com Helen's family wishes to thank the staff at the Barron Center in Portland for their great care and support while their mother was a resident there.

Helen L. Wildes

December 23, 1929 - October 24, 2012

Explore Obituaries &
Upcoming Services