Helen Virginia Welch's Obituary
Helen Virginia Welch was born on September 16, 1926 in San Benito, Texas. She departed her earthly home and was welcomed into her eternal home at the age of 91 on January 6, 2018. She attended Baylor University, where she was a Baylor Beauty and a member of Athenean Sorority (now Kappa Kappa Gamma). After the end of World War II as a B24 side gunner, Fred Eugene (Gene) Welch returned to Baylor to complete his education and it was here that their romance grew. “Penniless” and “Hopeless” (their pen names) were married on June 6, 1947 and celebrated 53 years of life together until Gene’s death on August 27, 2000.Gene and Helen moved to Dallas in 1947. Helen, after raising her family to school age, became a master teacher at Martha Turner Reilly and Mount Auburn Elementary schools for over 35 years.Helen’s life was a living testimony to her unwavering faithfulness and trust in her Lord. She and Gene joined the growing First Baptist Church of Dallas in 1947. Helen felt a calling to teach Sunday school in the junior division and for over 45 years touched the lives of hundreds of children.Preceded in death by her husband seventeen years ago, she is survived by her four children: daughter Debe and her husband Scott Brakefield; daughter Linda and her husband Duke Jimerson Jr.; son Brad Welch and his wife Debbie; and daughter Tami Welch Schwarz. Eleven grandchildren: Rachel and her husband Bob Florine, Juliet Wageman, Duke Jimerson III, Dillon Jimerson, Charles Welch and his wife Stacy, Cody Welch, Cami and her husband Ryan Browder, Laci and her husband Frank McWilliams, Cali and her husband David Schwarz, Mason Schwarz and his wife Whitney, Avri and her husband Boone Brosseau. Eleven great grandchildren: Owen Wageman; Gunner, Laney and Mark McWilliams; Gray, Saylor and Finley Schwarz; Morgan Schwarz; Boone, Sullivan and Ellis Brosseau.We are grateful for her devoted caretakers: Evelyn, Berlin, Erika and Precious.Helen will lie in state throughout the day on Thursday, January 11, 2018 at Restland Funeral Home for visitors. Please stop by the reception desk between the hours of 9:00 am and 8:00 pm and the funeral home staff will escort you back to staterooms E-F. The memorial service will be at 10:00 am at Restland Memorial Park in the Wildwood Chapel.In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent in her name to First Baptist Church Dallas 1707 San Jacinto St., Dallas, TX 75201.
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