Helena Gayle (Hawthorne) Bussard

WEST LAFAYETTE- Helena Gayle (Hawthorne) Bussard, 74, died Sunday, Jan. 31, 2021 at Grant Medical Center in Columbus.

She was born May 9, 1946 in Coshocton to the late Arthur and Hazel Maude (Wright) Hawthorne. She was a licensed beautician and worked for various other companies before she retired from Kraft Foods. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of West Lafayette, where she was very active, including her time with BWM.

Gayle loved to cook & bake, and doing crafts. She also enjoyed traveling when her health permitted.

She is survived by her husband of 54 years, John E. Bussard of West Lafayette, whom she married Dec. 18, 1966; two children, Scott (Darcy) Bussard of Warsaw, and Michelle Bussard of West Lafayette; a sister, Margaret Smith of Fresno; and a brother-in-law, Bob Bussard of West Lafayette.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by four siblings, Grace Hawthorne, Arthur J. Hawthorne, Juanita White, and Clark Hawthorne; her father-in-law & mother-in-law, William Franklin & Mary Jane (Craigo) Bussard; a sister-in-law, Lynn Bussard; and a brother-in-law, Ray (Mary) Bussard.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, Feb. 5, 2021 at the First Baptist Church, 688 E. Main St. West Lafayette, OH 43845, with Pastor Jim Lee officiating. Entombment will follow at Coshocton Co. Memory Gardens. Visitation is on Thursday, Feb. 4th from 5 to 7 p.m., and also one hour prior to service time on Friday at the church. All visitors are required to wear a face mask, and capacity will be limited for the health & safety of all involved. The Fischer Funeral Home in Warsaw is handling arrangements. A live stream of the funeral service will be available on Gayle’s obituary page at the funeral home website, www.fischerfuneralhome.com

In lieu of flowers, the family will accept donations towards funeral expenses in care of Fischer Funeral Home, P.O. Box 25 Warsaw, OH 43844.