Helen Fitzwater

Helen Lucille Cottrill Fitzwater, 98 years young, gained her well deserved wings on Sunday, October 12, 2025. She was very proud of her West Virginia Heritage, born in Pennsboro, West Virginia. She was the oldest of five children of the late Hugh & Janie Cottrill. She was preceded in death by her husband of 41 years, John L. Fitzwater, Jr. and her oldest son, John L. Fitzwater III.

Helen graduated with honors from Pennsboro High School in Pennsboro, WV in 1945. She received her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Education from Frostburg State College in 1971 and 1974 respectively. She was an elementary school teacher in Garrett County, retiring from Dennett Road Elementary in 1992. She continued to substitute in Garrett and Preston Counties until she was 90 years old. She was a member of Garrett County Teachers Association, Maryland State Teachers Association and the National Education Association. She remained active with Garrett County Retired Teachers.

She was a member of Bethel United Methodist Church in Mountain Lake Park for 79 years. Over the years she served in many capacities including Delegate to the West Virginia Conference for many years. She served as a missionary for Volunteers in Missions visiting Zimbabwe. She visited Israel and was able to remember her baptism in the Jordan River. She provided flowers from her gardens for the church altar for many years.

She was a world traveler, visiting every continent but Antarctica. She was active in her community through the Pythian Sisters of Oakland and Lonaconing, Homemakers of Preston County with her sister Dorothy, the Garrett County Democrat Club, and at one time held her Real Estate License. Alongside her husband, she helped to build multiple homes in the area, cultivate gardens, raise bees and found time to write poetry. She published a book of her poems entitled "Roses for John" in 2015. Aside from these involvements, her proudest accomplishment was her family.

She is survived by her son, Frank Fitzwater, and Nancy Starcher, Keyser, WV and her daughter Jann Swiger and husband Jerry, of Oakland. She has eight grandchildren, Ardra (John) Sharpless, Julie (Michael Clark) Fitzwater, Barrett Fitzwater, Gabriel (Rachelle) Fitzwater, John L. Fitzwater IV, James Fitzwater, Robert (Michalene Westover) Swiger, and Andrew (Kylie) Swiger. She has fifteen Great Grandchildren: Jeremy Sharpless, Julianna (Tyler) Alt, Sebastian, Birch & Linus Clark; Meghan, Hannah & Allison Fitzwater; Laureen & Gwyneth Fitzwater, James & Joshua (Kira) Fitzwater, Taylor (Aiden) Brady, Evan Swiger, and Conrad Swiger. She had the privilege to know all six of her great great grandchildren: Jaylen, Elias, Mylah & Layla Alt and Norah & Lina Fitzwater. Helen is survived by her sister Eileen Riggs of Saline, Michigan as well as many nieces and nephews.

Friends will be received at the Fredlock & Fenner Funeral Homes, P.A. - Oakland Chapel, 21 N 2nd St., Oakland on Thursday, October 16, 2025, from 5 to 9 PM. A funeral service will be held at Bethel United Methodist Church, 512 Dave Turney St., Mtn. Lake Park on Friday, October 17, 2025, at 1 PM with Rev. Barbara Rexrode officiating. Friends will be received at the church one hour prior. Interment will follow in the Oakland Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Helen may be made to a charity of one's choice.

The Fredlock & Fenner Funeral Homes are honored to be serving the Fitzwater family.