JACKSONVILLE  -  Helen Bales Trosclair, of Jacksonville, passed away Thursday, March 6, 2025, at CarolinaEast Medical Center in New Bern.  Graveside funeral services will be held at 12:00 PM on Thursday, March 13, at Coastal Carolina State Veterans Cemetery.

Mrs.Trosclair was born on March 18, 1935 in Crawfordville, GA to Wyman and Florrie Bales. The family moved when she was young to Adams Run, S.C, south of Charleston. She received her education at Hollywood High School, in Hollywood, S.C. She met the love of her life Luke Trosclair Sr. on a blind double date. He was a drill instructor in the Marine Corps at the time. They married on December 13th, 1952. Their military life included living in NC, Morocco, VA, CA, and SC. She ran the family while Luke was on many deployments. A true military wife! The family returned to Jacksonville, NC in 1968 where Luke Sr. retired in 1970.  Their marriage lasted over 59 years. Their union produced four children: Luke Jr., Ronald, Debra and Travis. Helen was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother. She loved Christmas, needlepoint, badminton, crocheting, chess, and especially bingo, which she played at many of the local establishments. She also loved taking pictures with her camera, and movies in the early days, with an 8mm movie camera. She liked to stay busy! Her personality was contagious and if you met her, you liked her. In her later years, she was the "Jigsaw Puzzle Queen" at Brookstone Living Center in Pollocksville, NC, where she had many friends. She will be missed by everyone.

She was preceded in death by her father and mother, Wyman and Florrie Bales; husband, Luke Trosclair Sr.; her son, Travis Lee Trosclair; and five siblings, Floyd, Grady, Elanor, Steven and Frankie.

Survivors include her sons, Luke Trosclair Jr., (Carleen) of Jacksonville, Ronald Trosclair, (Lynna) of Upper Marlboro, MD; her daughter, Debra Mitchell, (Bill) of Longs, SC; five grandchildren; twelve great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; and long-time friend, JoAnn Acker of Jacksonville.

The family will receive friends Wednesday evening March 12, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Jones Funeral Home, Jacksonville Chapel.