Alice Faye Welch's Obituary
Alice Faye Welch
After a brief illness, Alice Faye Welch (neé Moser), was called home by her Lord and Savior on November 30, 2021. Born in a covered wagon outside of Bethel, Oklahoma on May 21, 1934, Alice was one of two daughters born to James Melvin Moser and Lola Robinson, hardworking sharecroppers and tradespeople. When Alice was just two years old, her father sadly passed away. Her mother married Thomas Greggs Foster, a full-blooded Choctaw Indian, and together they had Melvin, Virginia and Jimmy Foster. Even though not her biological father, Alice called Thomas Foster “Daddy Tom,” who loved and cared for Alice and her sister Evelyn as though they were his own. Alice demonstrated James, Lola and Thomas’s strong work ethic throughout her life, often working multiple jobs to care for her family. In the late 1930s, the Moser-Foster family relocated to Wichita Falls, Texas where they would spend the majority of Alice’s life until she moved to Dallas, Texas in the 1950s.
A mother of five children, Alice understood what it meant to scrimp and save to make sure her kids did not go without. She always made sure her children had nice clothes to wear, a clean house, and food on the table – even if sometimes they didn’t like what was on the menu. Alice’s generosity and love for her children and grandchildren knew no bounds – as long as you did what she told you. She also gave generously to complete strangers, albeit anonymously. Alice hand embroidered and made more than 200 baby blankets for new moms, most of whom she never even knew. She would give the blankets to family and friends, telling them to give the baby blanket as a gift to whomever needed one. She never wanted credit, just the satisfaction that the blanket made its way to someone in need.
Alice prioritized education and trade skills for her children. She taught them to appreciate what they had and work hard towards their goals. Polly Stelzel (neé Van Cleave), her oldest daughter, graduated college and became a business teacher in 1980 – which Alice took great pride in sharing with others. Alice used to say, “You can always keep learning; education doesn’t cost a thing and it is the lightest thing to carry around.” Alice was only able to attend school formally through the eighth grade because she needed to work to help provide for her family. Despite not receiving a complete formal education, she was an expert-level seamstress and baker, especially known for her pies and cream puffs. She always loved a new tool or gadget for Christmas, often serving as her own handyman for work around the house and even mowed her own lawn well into her 80s. Every year at Christmas time, she meticulously planned and hosted family and friends for a large gathering and meal. Everyone knew they could count on the same dishes each year, including English pea salad, ham, turkey, stuffing, and mashed potatoes. Everyone had a different favorite pie flavor and she made sure no one went without their favorite.
Alice loved her home in Southeast Dallas, which she lived in for more than 60 years. She bought her house during a time when single women often needed a male co-signer to purchase real property. Through her penultimate values and characteristics of sheer will, work ethic, and dedication, she was able to impress her mortgagor and received a home loan, which she took great pride in her whole life. A sanctuary unto her own, Alice lived in her home independently until the last two weeks of her life – just as she had always wanted.
Alice is survived by many loving family members, including her beloved daughter Polly Stelzel and son-in-law Allen Stelzel, her brother Jimmy (and Janet) Foster, her son Kelly (and Tracy) Van Cleave, and her “stepdaughter” Tracy Sawyer. She was known as Mamaw to her many grandchildren, especially those that were part of her life and gave her great joy, including Courtney (and Jay) Rottman, Eric (and Briana) Stelzel, and Shawn (and Cassie) Stelzel. She had numerous great grandchildren and great-great- grandchildren.
Alice is preceded in death by her mother Lola, fathers Thomas and James, two sisters (Evelyn and Virginia), brother (Melvin), three of her children (Melvin, Susie and Larry), and one grandchild (Melanie).
Visitation for Alice Faye Welch will be Monday, December 13, 2021 from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM at Restland Funeral Home. A Service will be Tuesday, December 14, 2021 at 10:00 AM in the Wildwood Chapel at Restland Funeral Home.
Funeral arrangements for Alice Faye Welch have been faithfully entrusted to Restland Funeral Home and Cemetery, which is located at 13005 Greenville Ave., at the intersection of Restland Road, Dallas, Texas 75243, and can be reached at (972) 238-7111.
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