Helbert, Susan Summer
Susan Summer Helbert, 67, of Radford, Virginia passed away on Tuesday, July 12th. 2022. Susan was preceded in death by her parents, William Berryman Helbert, Jr, and Eloise Bird Helbert.
She is survived by her sisters, Ramona Helbert Byrne (Mark) of Genoa, Nevada and Claudia Jan Helbert of San Leandro, California, her aunt and uncle, Margaret and Jack Bird of Houston, Texas, and a number of cousins and friends. She is also survived by her beloved cats, Gino, Mike, Mango, and Pyewacket.
Susan graduated from Radford High School and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. She worked for the federal government for 32 years, and she retired as an Associate Special Agent in charge (ASAC) of Policy at the EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division (CID). Throughout her career, she was widely recognized for the excellence of her investigative and policy work by numerous federal agencies including the EPA, DOJ Environmental Crimes Division, US Attorneys’ Offices, and NCIS. Among her many professional activities she mentored numerous agents, instilling in them her passion for protecting the environment through law enforcement. She participated in the EPA CID investigation of the Anthrax mailings in 2001 and was one of the EPA CID Special Agents involved with the collection of evidence and body collection at the Pentagon in the immediate aftermath of 9/11. After her retirement, she moved back to Radford to care for her mother, Eloise, and continued living in the family home after her mother’s death. In retirement, Susan was active in both community and church work, and was a lover of people and cats, a lover of food both gourmet and junk, an avid sailor, a consummate storyteller, and a defender against injustice.
The family wishes to extend their appreciation to the staff of Pulaski Health and Rehabilitation Center in Pulaski, Virginia where Susan was cared for after she suffered massive strokes in November 2021 and a very special thanks to Bruce Wood, a hospice case manager with Carillion Hospice of New River Valley. The family wishes to also thank a friend of the family, Andrea Lewis, for her special care of Susan at the end of her life. Finally, a grateful thanks to Nancy Crawford Landes, who, with the help of Pound Pals of Radford re-homed Susan’s fur babies.
Instead of flowers, donations to the following would be appreciated. First, the American Stroke Association, either at National Center, 7272 Greenville Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75231 or online at stroke.org; the second, 350.org at PO box 843004, Boston, MA, 02284 or online at 350.org; and locally, Pound Pals of Radford, at PO Box 2851, Radford, Virginia 24143.