Florence Wimberly Hellinger
Florence Wimberly Hellinger (May 24, 1930 – October 3, 2021). Florence, known as Flossie since her adolescence, was born in Thomasville, Georgia, the 2nd of two children of Mary and Robert Wimberly.
Flossie, her sister Mary and their parents moved into a home built by Flossie’s maternal grandfather on Mallory Street, in Jacksonville, in 1940. Flossie thrived in the nearby local schools (Fishweir Elementary, John Gorrie Junior, Lee High) where she made friendships that lasted a lifetime, before heading to, and graduating from, Mary Baldwin College. In 1953, Flossie married Frank R. Hellinger, whom she met at Fishweir and with whom she moved to Chicago and shortly thereafter to Cleveland. While Frank completed medical school and training in neurosurgery, Flossie worked in social service, learned to drive in the snow, enjoyed the Chicago and Cleveland orchestras with Frank by working with him as an usher, bore and began raising 4 children (Walter, Carol, Frank Jr, Katherine). Flossie returned with Frank and their children to Florida in 1963, settling in Orlando, where their fifth child, Mark, was born. After all had completed primary school, Flossie obtained a Master’s Degree in Social Work, specializing in education. A first rate intellect, a competitive drive for excellence in academics, an instinctive compassion for those less fortunate or able than her, a commitment to service in and through the Presbyterian Church and a restless desire to be productive spirited her life as wife, mother, sister, sister-in-law, aunt, grandmother, great-grandmother, Sunday School teacher, deacon and elder in the church, tutor in the public schools, sponsor of refugees and volunteer for charitable organizations in central
Florida. Friendly engagement of people came naturally to Flossie. Among the few occasions it was not returned included fishing trips with her father from which she was excluded because she “talked too much.” Flossie enjoyed a good laugh, a number of sports including tennis which she played well, gardening and a budget. Well
after becoming a grandmother she continued frying her own chicken as the alternative was simply too expensive. Flossie and Frank lived for 54 years in a home on Lake Rowena in Orlando, a home that they loved and
which was the center of the lives they shared with family, many friends, neighbors and members of their congregation, before moving to the Winter Park Towers. Frank died in 2020. Flossie is survived and lovingly remembered by four children (Walter, Carol, Frank Jr, Katherine), nine grandchildren (Thomas, Christopher, Laura, Paul, Jackson, Sophie, AnnaBelle, Ella, Nico) and one great grandchild (Tristan). A service will be held for Flossie, her family and friends at the Winter Park Presbyterian Church beginning 11 AM on Saturday, November 6. All are welcomed. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Winter Park Presbyterian Church or to Habitat for Humanity.
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