Helen Louise Wear, a longtime Point Loma resident, passed away at age 84 on Friday, April 18, 2008. All of her five children were at her side.
Helen was born Helen Louise Loveless in Washington D.C., on Oct. 13, 1923, and grew up in Arlington, Va. and Palm Beach, Fla. Believing she was an only child, Helen learned that she was the youngest of six children and that her birth mother made a loving sacrifice to give her sister the child she always wanted.
Helen’s aunt and uncle, Grace and Arthur Swenson, raised Helen as their only child “” giving her a wonderful life.
Helen Wear was an Olympic hopeful at swimming and synchronized swimming. Later working at the Pentagon, she met the love of her life, La Vern G. Wear, who had just survived the sinking of two aircraft carriers during World War II ” the USS Lexington (1942) and the USS Hornet (1943).
Their romance grew during World War II and culminated in their marriage on Oct. 16, 1943. Cmdr. La Vern Wear served 33 years in the U.S. Navy and passed away in 1986.
Helen supported the war efforts as a Navy wife and at Rohr Aircraft during World War II until she found her true calling as a mother. Helen Wear relocated her large family over 50 times to support her husband as they moved wherever they were needed by the Navy. This vivacious woman was a tremendous Navy wife, supportive mother, loving grandmother and friend to all.
She was a patriotic supporter, from volunteering for Navy Relief to helping other Navy wives in their time of need.
In 1968, Helen was active in the “Remember the Pueblo” campaign to secure release of the USS Pueblo and the crew during their 11-month captivity in North Korea. Rose Bucher, wife of the late Cmdr. Lloyd “Pete” Bucher, captain of the USS Pueblo, said ,”Helen Wear was a dear, loyal friend and a supporter who comforted our family during our long ordeal.”
Helen was a member of the Navy League, Peninsula Republican Women Federated and a volunteer for Scouting. She was a strong supporter of the San Diego Lifeguard Services.
Because of her strong interest in aquatics, Helen taught her children how to swim. Her legacy includes three children and two grandchildren who served as San Diego lifeguards and one son as a San Diego firefighter.
Her son, Byron Wear, served as a San Diego city councilmember. He held office from December 1995 until December 2002 on the council, representing Point Loma, Ocean Beach, Midway, Pacific Beach, Mission Beach, Mount Soledad portion of La Jolla, Downtown and Mission Hills.
Helen is also survived by three sisters, Jean Goode, Evelyn Ballard, and Gertrude Breeden of Virginia; five children, Robert Wear, Clint Wear, Linda Whyte, Debbie Buford and Byron Wear; 15 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren.
A viewing will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. on Sunday, April 27 at the historic North Chapel at Liberty Station (formerly the Naval Training Center in Point Loma).
Burial services will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Monday, April 28 at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, followed by a celebration of life memorial at 1 p.m. at the Point Loma Community Presbyterian Church, 2128 Chatsworth Blvd., where Helen was a longtime member.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests contributions to the San Diego Military Outreach Ministries to support military families or the Peninsula YMCA’s “Learn to Swim” program.