Major Helen Sue Watts

Major Helen Sue Warnock Watts

Helen Sue Warnock was born in Tulare, CA on January 24, 1938, to parents Laurence and Louise Warnock.  After the family moved to Oklahoma, she started attending The Salvation Army "Band of Love" which was held at the corps officer's home located in the block next to her grade school.  She also attended Sunday School with other children who lived in the same apartment building.

Soon she was enrolled as a Junior Soldier and later became a Corps Cadet, Senior Soldier, Corps Cadet Guardian and acting YPSM.

Helen Sue attended youth camp every summer at Camp Heart O' Hills until the year she left for training college.  While at camp she enjoyed the teaching ministries of Lt. Colonel Ed Laity, Sr., Colonel James Klaas, Lt. Colonel Wesley Bouterse and Brigadier Elmer Capp.

During those teen years, Helen Sue was a member of the Oklahoma Corps Cadets 500 Club and Territorial Corps Cadet Honor Club.

In considering her life's work, her intent was to become either a nurse or a teacher.  She said, "But I kept remembering the poster in the corps chapel which said: Who shall I send and who shall go for ME… here am I, Lord, send me.  I finally said, Lord, if You can use me as I am, I'll go- but You'll have to show me by making it possible."  She entered training with the "Courageous Session" and was commissioned on May 26, 1958.  The Session's scripture song is taken from Joshua 1:7,9- "Only be thou strong and very courageous…be strong and of a good courage; neither be thou dismayed; for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest."  This promise has always been her inspiration.

Her undergraduate studies included English Literature, Sociology and Psychology at the University of Alabama, University of Maryland and University of South Florida.

She served on the Child Welfare League of America (1966-71) and The Salvation Army National Women and Children Commission (1968-73).

She attended Brengle Institute in 1967 and the International College for Officers in 1981.

Helen Sue appointments from the Lord:

TEX - Home & Hospital - Assisting Officer

May 26, 1958 - Jun 28, 1960

ALM - Home & Hospital - Assisting Officer

Jun 29, 1960 - Feb 4, 1964

NCV - Home & Hospital - Assisting Officer

Feb 5, 1964 - Sep 21, 1965

MWV - Day Nursery - Assisting Officer

Sep 22, 1965 - Sep 17, 1967

MWV - Day Nursery - Superintendent

Sep 18, 1967 - Feb 3, 1973

FLA - Home & Hospital - Administrator

Feb 4, 1973 - Aug 26, 1975

AOK - Home & Hospital - Administrator

Aug 27, 1975 - Jan 31, 1984

THQ - Director - Officers' Sick Benefit and Burial Fund Section

Feb 1, 1984 - Nov 10, 1987

THQ - Director - Officers' Health Service Bureau

Nov 11, 1987 - Dec 31, 1991

THQ - Secretary - Officers' Health Service Department

Jan 1, 1992 - Mar 31, 2003

Helen Sue retired on April 1, 2003 with over 44 years of active service and married Don Watts that same day.

Don and Helen Sue were married over 19 years before Don was called to his eternal home September 5, 2022. Also, those that have gone on before her are her parents Laurence and Louise Warnock, brothers Don Warnock & Major Sam Warnock.

She is survived by siblings: Pattie (Gerald) Belden, Mary Sparks, Audrey (Rudy) Kosechequetah, June Roy, Janice (Watson) Mitchell, Edith (Eddy) Morton-Kelch, and Carol (John) Milner, sisters-in-law, Mary Warnock and Beulah Willadene Warnock, as well as three generations of nieces and nephews.

Well done thy good and faithful Servant- Helen Sue

Celebration of Life service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Monday, February 5, 2024, at The Salvation Army, 2808 SE 44th St., Oklahoma City, OK 73129, with graveside services following at 3:30 p.m., at Cottonwood Cemetery, Muldrow, OK.