Thelma Welch

Candler/Kingsport, TN Thelma Faye Raby Welch, 80, formerly of 13 Westwood Drive passed away Thursday, July 1, 2010 at her home in Kingsport, TN. A native of Franklin, NC. She had resided in Pontiac, MI for 31 years, then moved to Buncombe County in 1990 where she lived for 15 years prior to moving to Kingsport, TN. She was a former Office Manager for Dr. Thomas H. Cobb and a former Unit Secretary at St. Josephs Hospital both in Pontiac, MI. She was a member of New Morgan Hill Baptist Church and a former member of Columbia Avenue Baptist Church where she was a Sunday School Teacher. Mrs. Welch was a daughter of the late Charles Dana Raby and Ella Victoria Reeves Raby. She was also preceded in death by her brothers, Austin Raby, Gorman Raby, Joe Raby, Sam Raby, Roy Raby and Cecil Raby and sisters, Lola Mae Rowland, Kate Tallant, Oma Rick, Fannie Burrell, Ann Jackson, Ellen Ray and Mary Rowland. Surviving are her husband, Beauford Deck Welch, whom she married July 30, 1949; daughters, Sharon Lee Ingles & husband James A. of Nashville, TN and Linda Sue Caissie & husband James G. of Kingsport, TN; son, Dana William Welch & wife, Erin of South Lyon, MI; granddaughters, Alanna, Brenna and Cara Welch; sisters, Grace Maxwell of Danville, VA and Cathy James of Venice, FL; and several nieces & nephews. Funeral services will be held 3 PM Monday in the chapel of Anders-Rice Funeral Home with Rev. Roy Houston officiating. Entombment will follow in Forest Lawn Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 2 to 3 PM Monday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to: New Morgan Hill Baptist Church Building Fund, 370 Lake Drive, Candler, NC 28715.