BARTON HELLMUTH

Barton Lee Hellmuth, age 92, passed to his heavenly home on Thursday, July 11, 2024. He was blessed with a wonderful family all his life. 

Bart very much enjoyed doing things with his family ‒‒ trips to the beach, picnics and hikes in the mountains, holidays, birthday celebrations, recitals, and any other reason to gather together to laugh and talk and share.  He also enjoyed connecting with his many church and community friends.

As a Christian, Bart was interested in what goes on in the spiritual and inner self. He enjoyed contemplative prayer. He liked nature: clouds and stars, waterfalls and the sound of rain on the roof, ducks and dragonflies. In his early days he was an avid gardener. Other interests were walking, swimming, boating, eating out, exploring and going to new places. He had a great, albeit unusual, sense of humor. He was very creative. He liked to write limericks, sermons, and letters. Bart embraced growing, learning, and ever changing.  He especially loved feeling cozy and being in love. 

Two of Bart’s favorite Bible verses were John 15:5 “Apart from me [Jesus] you can do nothing,” and Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” His two most frequent prayers were “Thank you, Lord, thank you.” and “Help, Lord, help!”  He prayed daily for family, friends, and those in need.

Bart was preceded in death by his parents, Everett and Doris Hellmuth and his brother, Everett. Surviving are Shirley, his wife of 68 years; daughter Carol (Win) of Sherrills Ford, N.C.; sons John (Elizabeth) of Lexington and Andrew of Buena Vista; daughter Betsy of Burlington, N.C.; grandson Christopher (Heather) of Rock Hill, S.C.; granddaughter Katie (Daniel) of Chicago, Ill., grandson Levi of Burlington, N.C.; and great-grandchildren Caspian, Cade, and Haley of Rock Hill, S.C. 

Bart ran track at the College of William and Mary. He graduated with a degree in philosophy. He then went to Union Theological Seminary where he sang in the choir. He graduated with a master of divinity. Later he also got a master of home economics in child and family at UNCG. 

Bart was pastor of six churches: Ashburn Presbyterian and Aldi in Virginia, John Knox Presbyterian in Shelby, N.C., Trinity Presbyterian in Winston-Salem, N.C., Oxford Presbyterian and Rapps Church in Lexington. He also preached aboard a cruise ship, in a church in Norway, and at Presbytery meetings. He officiated at weddings in churches and homes, but also at Natural Bridge, in Eli Fishpaw’s field, above Hostetter’s store, at Lime Kiln, beside a creek, at Zollman’s Pavillion, in Edna Curtain’s rock garden, on the Virginia Dare boat, on Smith Mountain Lake, at Lee Chapel, at Southern Virginia College, at Virginia Military Institute and in the field at Palmer Community Center. His final wedding was officiated with his grandson, Christopher, at Fairview Estates for his granddaughter Katie.  In his retirement he preached at Presbyterian, Baptist, Brethren, Methodist, Pentecostal, Seventh Day Adventist and Foursquare churches. 

One of Bart’s goals throughout his life was to bring the races together. In the 1960s he did this by having discussion groups between the black and white churches. Most recently, in 2008 he was instrumental in bringing the First Baptist Church of Buena Vista (a black congregation) and the Buena Vista Presbyterian Church (a white congregation) together for joint services twice a year. This continued until COVID-19. 

Bart professed to have had a very blessed life. In his recent publication of his life story, he expressed, “I don’t think there’s a person anywhere who has ever had as good a life as I have had. For my entire life I have been held up by the ‘everlasting arms’ and that will never end.”

He was loved and cherished by family and friends. There are not enough good things that can be said about him.

A celebration of life service will be conducted at 2 p.m. at Buena Vista Presbyterian Church on Saturday, July 13, 2024, by the Rev. Howard Boswell. The family will receive friends one hour before the service.

Arrangements are by Harrison Funeral Home and Crematory.