Helen Lorraine Underwood

Helen Lorraine (Eikenberry) Underwood, 90, passed away peacefully and surrounded by family Friday in her hometown of North Manchester on January 16, 2026.

Helen was born March 30, 1935, in Mexico, Indiana, to Vernon and Nondus (Pearson) Eikenberry and was raised on the Zendale Farm in Miami County, Indiana.

She graduated from Indiana State University with a bachelor’s degree in education and earned a master’s in education from the University of Georgia. She was dedicated to teaching kindergarten and first grade for 25 years at Laketon Elementary School and Maple Park Elementary School in the Manchester Community Schools system, from which she retired in 1993.

Helen married the love of her life, Harvey Underwood, in 1959, and together they raised four sons. Family was always at the center of her life, and she loved her husband, sons, daughters-in-law, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and extended family deeply.

Helen was an avid reader, gardener and lover of birds and nature in general. Her natural grace, calming presence, kindness, sweet smile and easy laugh made all around her feel loved and valued. She was unfailingly unselfish and humble. Given her polite nature, Helen’s occasional spunky remarks were amusing.

She spent many hours reading to her young sons and grandchildren, bonding with them and laying the foundation for their education.

She and Harvey raised their family in rural North Manchester, and Helen’s homemaking helped keep Underwood Angus Farms running smoothly. Her home-cooked meals made family gatherings special. Helen’s Swedish meatballs, barbecue ribs, fried chicken, broccoli casserole, chocolate delight, grasshopper cake and pumpkin-chocolate chip cookies are legendary.

Helen was preceded in death by Harvey in 2003 and her brother, Stan Eikenberry, in 2021.

She is survived by her sister, Jane (Bob) Doebel; her four sons, David (Tari) Underwood, Mark (Rolissa) Underwood, Scott (Tammy) Underwood and Doug (Gail) Underwood; grandchildren Jacob Underwood, Lacy (Michael) Fox, Ross Underwood, Katie (Aaron) Snover, Neil (Mariah) Underwood, Mandy (Spencer) Mahan, Austin (fiancée Emma) Underwood, Samantha (Luke) Harris, Alixandra (Robert) Underwood, Simon (Alexis) Underwood and Ethan Underwood; and great-grandchildren Rosalie, Maria, Anna and Sara Fox; Blayke and Archie Snover; Alba, Clisby, Mabrey and Eike Underwood, and Finn and Foster Harris.

Viewing will be 3-7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 21, at McKee Mortuary in North Manchester. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 22, at the United Methodist Church, where Helen was a member, in North Manchester, with visitation one hour before.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the “Harvey V. Underwood Scholarship Fund for Sciences” to be awarded to a Manchester High School graduate. Checks may be sent to the Underwood Scholarship Fund c/o the Community Foundation of Wabash County, 220 E. Main St., North Manchester, IN 46962.