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Helen Cornelia (Vayhinger) Caplinger

Helen Cornelia (Vayhinger) Caplinger

Helen Cornelia (Vayhinger) Caplinger, age 100, of Osgood, passed away at 7:45 p.m., Thursday, December 31, 2020 at the Manderley Health Care Center in Osgood. She was born in Osgood on September 5, 1920, the daughter of Vernon and Alice Knowlton Vayhinger and spent her entire life in Osgood. She was married to Norman Caplinger in Bedford, Kentucky on October 19, 1940 and he preceded her in death on April 11, 1994. Survivors include two sons, Terry (Cathy Matz) Caplinger of Osgood and Tom (Kathy Braley) Caplinger of Fairland; three grandchildren, Mike Caplinger and Bob (Teresa) Caplinger of Thorntown, and Susan (Jason) Luby of Monroe, Georgia, and several great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother Albert Vayhinger and his wife Kathlyn.


Mrs. Caplinger was a 1938 graduate of Osgood High School. During her 100 years, she worked and volunteered at several places. She worked in her dad’s law office in Osgood, in the Ripley County Courthouse and retired from the Southeastern Indiana REMC. She also volunteered at the Ripley County Historical Society and contributed to both volumes of the Ripley County history books. She also volunteered at the Osgood Library, Osgood Museum and food pantry. Helen was a lifetime member of the Osgood United Methodist Church where she taught Sunday school, was a leader on several committees and helped with their many dinners and rummage sales. She loved people and loved helping others.


Her immediate family, her church family and her community were very dear to her heart and she enjoyed the annual family vacations in Wisconsin. She had a smile for everyone she met. Her family would always chuckle when she said she liked to read to the “old people” at Manderley, she being in her 80s at the time. Her life was very full and she’ll be missed by many. Her family loved her very much and will miss her sweet smile and warm hug.


Funeral services for Helen will be held at the convience of the family with Pastor Shawn Tully of the Dover Christian Church officiating. Burial will be in the Cliff Hill Cemetery at Versailles. Memorials may be given to the Osgood United Methodist Church in care of the Stratton-Karsteter Funeral Home in Versailles.