Published: June 29, 2009 10:10 am      

Bridge flowers dedicated to late Rotarian

By Samantha Swindler / Managing Editor

Beautiful beds of flowers at Corbin’s renovated Engineer Street Bridge were dedicated on Wednesday to late Rotary Club member and long-time gardener Lawrence Helton.

With Mayor Willard McBurney, then-Rotary Club President Mark Steely (as of Wednesday), members of the Corbin Master Gardeners and Helton’s family present, plaques dedicating the 2009 flowers in Helton’s memory were placed in the flower beds around the walking bridge.

The flowers were purchased in part by the Rotary Club and are maintained by the Master Gardeners. Though Helton was never a member of the Master Gardeners, he was an avid gardener who lived close enough on Engineer Street to enjoy the bridge’s flowers.

“Dad really did love this bridge and the street that he lived on and all of his neighbors, and we’re really going to miss him,” said his daughter Jenny Hungerbuhler. “I really appreciate you all.”

Helton was a past president and 50-year member of the Corbin Rotary Club who almost never missing a weekly meeting. He died Feb. 13, 2009, at the age of 95.

“Lawrence, he will be missed throughout the community, civic-wise, and he thought a lot about Corbin and especially this project here. He thought it was one of the best projects that ever happened,” said Mayor McBurney.