Helen Margaret Ricker

Helen Margaret (Eyerman) Ricker of Indianapolis, Indiana, wife of Frank J. Ricker, passed peacefully in her sleep on September 6, 2025. The daughter of Roman and Margaret (Rapp) Eyerman, Helen was born September 23, 1942, in Columbus, Ohio, and raised there, attending St. Joseph Academy high school. A graduate of St. Mary of the Springs College (now Ohio Dominican University), she earned a Bachelor Arts in History and Political Science in 1964 and went on to teach for a decade in Columbus’ parochial school system, including at Bishop Hartley and St. Francis de Salles high schools. She taught junior/senior history and Problems of Democracy, reaching her students in ways that made learning possible; whenever she could, she provided them opportunities to improve their efforts across subjects.

Helen and Frank were married in 1970 and recently celebrated their 55th anniversary. Together, they moved from Columbus to Urbana, Ohio, to Ft. Wayne, Indiana, and then settled in Indianapolis, where they lived for more than three decades. Helen supported Frank as he completed his college degree and she worked in many roles during the years following, from retail clerk to florist to bartender and cook. She was an avid reader and watcher of police dramas and true crime, and an accomplished seamstress who also enjoyed needlepoint and crafting cards. Helen loved the Border Collies who were family throughout her and Frank’s life, including Lady, Sugar, Mariah, and Ebony, and Molly, who remains at Frank’s side.

In addition to Frank and Molly, Helen leaves many brothers- and sisters-in-law from coast-to-coast, nieces and nephews, and grand-nieces and -nephews, as well as cousins in Ohio. A celebration of life will take place at the chapel at St. Joseph Cemetery in Lockbourne, Ohio on a later date.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Helen’s memory to Clancy’s Dream, Inc. (https://www.clancysdream.org; Clancy’s Dream, c/o Kenny Shuck, 8092 Heathers Pass, Seymour, IN 47274), which brings help and hope to Border Collies in times of need.