Helena Maria Shultz; Former Nurse, Wife of Ex-Diplomat

Helena Maria Shultz, 80, an Army Nurses Corps lieutenant in World War II who traveled the world with her husband, former Secretary of State George P. Shultz. Born Helena Maria O’Brien in Nashua, N.H., she was known throughout her life by the nickname “O’Bie.” Mrs. Schultz, always active in promoting nursing and helping handicapped children, served as the nation’s diplomatic hostess when her husband headed the State Department from 1982 to 1989 during the Administration of President Ronald Reagan. Traveling with her husband on his official duties and when he headed Bechtel Co., she logged about 2 million miles. The couple, who would have celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in February, met when both were on duty in Hawaii during the war. On Tuesday in Palo Alto of pancreatic cancer.