Rhonda F. Helms, 72, of Fairfield, passed away at 5:40pm on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, at her home.

Rhonda was born on May 11, 1954, in Fairfield, IL, to Glen and Lyndall (Hodge) Ewing. She was a veteran of the United States Army, serving in Okinawa, Japan and Pirmasens, Germany, where she met and married the love of her life, Ira Helms, on February 11, 1977.

Rhonda was a member of the Rock Community Church and had also worked as an insurance agent for Moore Insurance in Fairfield. She enjoyed spending her time sitting in the sun, along with crocheting and cross-stitching. Rhonda and her family had just returned recently from her favorite vacation destination, Panama City Beach, FL, where she loved to sit in the sun on the beach and eat seafood.

Survivors include her mother Lyndall Ewing of Fairfield, her daughters Mandy (Mike) Winter of Springerton and Melissa (Ben) Gates of Fairfield, her step-son Mike (Chrissy) Helms of Deptford, New Jersey, her grandchildren Nicole (Dustin) Young, Zac (Alexis) Helms-Gates, Christian (Hailey) Helms-Gates, Abebi (Christian) Hinkle, Jake Winter, her step-grandchildren Mike Helms, Jr., Patrick Helms, and Zach Helms, her great grandchildren Kallen Moore, Liam Hinkle, Josiah Hinkle, James Young, Gypsy Helms-Gates, Audrey Hinkle, and Kimber Young, her siblings Leslie (Dena) Ewing and Mona Grisham both of Fairfield and Dale (Cathy Kimbrell) Ewing of Geff, along with several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her father, Glen Ewing, a step-grandson Dominick Helms, and her Aunt Betty Murphy and Uncle Lex Hodge.

Funeral services will be at 1pm on Monday, August 31st , at the Johnson and Vaughn Funeral Home in Fairfield with burial to follow in Cumberland Chapel Cemetery north of Fairfield. Military rites will be provided by the Anthony Wayne Post #176 American Legion and the Wayne County Post #4535 VFW. Visitation will be from 11am until the time of service at the funeral home. Memorial donations can be made to the National Scleroderma Foundation and will be accepted at the Johnson and Vaughn Funeral Home which is in charge of arrangements.