Helen Bynum Gienau

Helen Bynum Gienau, age 98, passed away Tuesday, March 31, 2026. She was born September 17, 1927 in Bartow, FL to Zeno "Jake" & Frances Bynum. Helen was the Supervisor of Polk County Elections from 1976 to 2000. She was selected to be an Electoral College Elector for the State of Florida to cast Florida’s Electoral College votes for Jimmy Carter in 1976. She also escorted Rosalyn Carter around Bartow during a presidential campaign visit. Helen was the first in the State of Florida to implement the optical scan voting system, which later the Florida legislature enacted legislation to require all Florida counties to do the same as Polk County. She was a member of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church of Bartow, as well as an active Choir member. Helen was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Bartow Crickette Club and she served on the Board of Directors for Community National Bank of Bartow. She was preceded in death by her husband Ralph C. Gienau and her sister Martha Davies & husband Richard. Helen is survived by her two daughters Denise Heppel & husband Jim of Bartow and Ellen Picket & husband Bill of Knightdale, NC, four grandchildren Russell Picket & wife Kierstun, Ian Picket, Rebecca Heppel Anderson and Christopher Heppel and three great grandchildren Peytun Picket, Sydney Picket and Joshua James Anderson. Family will receive friends Wednesday, April 8, 2026 from 10:00 am to 11:00 am at the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church in Bartow, FL. Funeral service will follow at 11:00 am Wednesday, April 8, 2026, at the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. Burial will be held at Wildwood Cemetery in Bartow, FL. Condolences to family at www.whiddenmcleanfuneralhome.com