LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Joseph Franklin Helf passed away at his home July 18, 2015, surrounded by his wife and sons.

Born Dec. 27, 1927, in Tipton, Tillman County, Okla., Joe graduated from Tipton High School in 1945.

As a teenager he was one of the first on-air personalities at Radio Station KWHW in Altus.

He graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 1950, with a degree in speech. He supported himself through college as a newscaster and disc jockey, first at KTOK in Oklahoma City, and later at KNOR in Norman, where he was one of the first announcers for that station when it began operating in 1948 or 1949.

After graduation he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, and received his commission as a 2nd Lieutenant on April 7, 1952.

After tours of duty at Hamilton Air Force Base in Marin County, Calif., and Payne Air Force Base in Everett, Wash. – where he met and married his wife Betty (Murbach) in 1953 – he was stationed at Oxnard Air Force Base in Ventura County, Calif.

Joe was discharged in 1955 and moved to the San Francisco Bay Area. Joe attended Hastings College of Law in San Francisco for one year before going to work for the Internal Revenue Service as a revenue officer in 1957. He worked in this capacity in the San Jose office until his retirement in December 1982.

All during this 25-year period he was engaged in ministering to churches of Christ in the Bay Area on a part-time basis.

In 1990 Joe and Betty moved to Kelseyville, where Joe served as an elder of the church there until his death.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Betty; two sons, Garth Helf and Gavin Helf; two daughters-in-law, Lorraine Helf and Theresa Sabonis-Helf; two grandsons; two granddaughters; two great-granddaughters; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 15, at Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary in Lakeport, 1625 N. High St.

Donations to Hospice of Lake County would be appreciated.

For further information please contact Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary at 707-263-0357 or 994-5611 or visit www.chapelofthelakes.com .