Biography

Helen Welch died December 1, 2013, at her home in Lake Oswego, surrounded by her family. She was 96 years old.

Helen was born September 1, 1917, in Chester, Montana to Simon Warrington and Mabel Shepherd Warrington. She grew up on a family wheat farm in Chester with her sister, Thelma. She graduated from high school as valedictorian of her class in 1934 and graduated from the University of Montana in 1938 with a degree in mathematics and business.

She married Richard L. Welch, an electrical engineer, in 1939. They raised four children, moving several times throughout the United States and to Athens, Greece. They settled in Lake Oswego in 1956. She remained a devoted wife, homemaker and mother for the 74 years of her marriage to Richard. They traveled extensively to Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, Alaska, Central America and the Pacific Islands. She and Richard were members of the Lake Grove Presbyterian Church.

Helen is survived by her children, Carol Gourley and Linda Davis of Lake Oswego and Richard E. Welch of Benton City, Wash.; grandchildren, Tara Hendren of Wilsonville and Tyler and Natalie Davis of Lake Oswego; and great-grandchild, Henry Davis of Lake Oswego.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Richard, on June 12, 2013; daughter, Judy, in 2012; parents, Simon and Mabel Warrington; sister, Thelma Shaw; and beloved cat, Smokey.

There will be no service at her request. She will be buried next to her husband, Richard, in Willamette National Cemetery.

The family would like to extend a special thanks to the caregivers of Specialty Comfort Care for their exceptional kindness and expert, round-the-clock care and to Legacy Hospice.