Patrick Lynn Helton (Pat) passed from this life on August 26,2022 at the age of 72, in Abilene from injuries sustained in a vehicle accident near Guthrie, Tx. Pat had been a resident of Lubbock for 53 years.
Pat was born in Levelland, TX Phillips/Dupre Hospital April 3, 1950 to Ray and Delma Jo Helton. He attended Levelland schools and graduated from LHS in 1998. He attended SPC and Texas Tech and was a world traveler with his jobs and family. He had a special interest in Israel.
Pat grew up in and was baptized at Cactus Drive Church of Christ. He was quite a student of the Bible and had many theological discussions with his sister.
Pat was a lifelong Boy Scout beginning in Cub Scouts and became the youngest boy to receive his Eagle Scout in South Plains Council at the time. He was a member of Order of the Arrow, and served as Cubmaster and Scoutmaster for his son Matt and many, many boys in Lubbock. One of his favorite places was Camp Post where he spent many weekends, first with his father, then with his son and then his grandson. Scouting was an important part of his life. He expanded that love when he became a spelunker, with his son, exploring and photographing the caves of New Mexico, Carlsbad Caverns; some you see and many you don’t see on the tours, and became the chief cartographer for the Cave Research Foundation; He also mapped the caves of the Guadalupe Mountains.
He worked for Governors Bush and Perry as the Director of International Trade at the SBDC, taking the word about Texas industry all over the world, in particular, to Israel and Turkey. He traveled internationally with Rick Perry when Perry was US Secretary of Agriculture. His travels led him to meet many world dignitaries and got him into some wonderful places.
Above all else, he cherished his family. His wife, Vicki Rutledge Helton, was his rock, and they had great adventures together. They were married January 16, 1970 at Cactus Drive Church of Christ. Two children were born to them, Elizabeth “Buffi” Helton and Matthew Ray Helton. They lived their entire married life in Lubbock. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife on July31, from her injuries in the same accident Pat is survived by his sister Beth Watkins of Katy, his children Buffi and Matt Helton, his 4 grandchildren Carolyn, Griffin and Luke Messer and Eli Helton, his brothers in law Todd Rutledge, and John Watkins and sister-in-law Lisa Rutledge, 3 nephews and 4 nieces. He was preceded in death by his parents and his “girlfriend”/ wife Vicki Rutledge Helton.
A memorial service for Pat and Vicki Helton was held at the Ransom Canyon Memorial Chapel, October 12, 2022.
Memorials for Pat and Vicki Helton can be sent to The Wallace Theater restoration project (his Uncle Wallace built all of the theaters in Levelland), www.WallaceTheater.com/donate or www.Starry.org or https:// www.heartofhorsesense.org.