Welch, Flora (Mrs.George W.) 1867-1932

WELCH, HOBSON

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 10/4/2015 at 12:29:13

Hawarden Independent September 15, 1932
DEATHOF FLORA HOBSON WELCH FORMER TEACHER DIED IN SAN DIEGO, CALIF., SEPT. 5TH

Taught in the Public Schools Calliope and Hawarden 35 or 40 Years Ago

Mrs. George W. Welch, a former resident of this city and for many years a teacher in the public schools of Calliope and Hawarden, died in a hospital at San Diego, Calif., Monday, Sept. 5th. Mrs. Welch had been in ill health for some time. She was put under the care of New York specialists and everything possible was done to save her life.

Funeral services were held in San Diego last Wednesday, followed by cremation at her request.
As Flora Adell Hobson, she was born in Bartlett, Ohio, on Jan. 11,1867. She spent most of her girlhood at Howard Lake, Minn., moving to Hawarden with her parents after which for a number of years in the 90's she was an exceptionally successful teacher in the public schools. She discontinued teaching here about 1898 when she entered the Art School in Cincinnati, Ohio, which she attended for several
years and also attended the University of Chicago. Her artistic soul found expression in lovely painting and wood carving. Many Hawarden people are familiar with creations of her artistry. She taught manual training in the schools of Denver, Colo., just previous to her marriage to Mr. Welch, also a former Hawarden resident, on July 14, 1908, in Canon City, Colo.

Following her marriage she lived in Ames and Des Moines for a number of years, but when Mr. Welch retired from the railway mail service some twelve years ago they moved to Boulder, Colo. They usually spent their winters in San Diego, where they had a pretty home, returning to Boulder in the summer to be near relatives and to look after property interests there.

With Mr. Welch she paid a visit to Hawarden three years ago. Mrs. Welch was a member of the
First Congregational church of Boulder and had been very active in Sunday School work there as well as in Des Moines. She was a member of the Theosophical Society and formerly of the Boulder Woman's Club. Her first thought was of others and throughout her illness she refused to let her
friends and relatives know of her condition because she would not cause them concern. Consequently her death came as a great blow to her family and friends.

Besides her husband, Mrs. Welch is survived by two step-sons, Ira Welch of Minneapolis, MN and Verali Welch of Phillip SD and by her aged mother Mrs. Lucy Hobson, her sister, Mrs. Leslie Kelso and two nieces, Esther and Loraine Kelso, all of Boulder. Her father, James H. Hobson, passed away in Boulder six years ago this month. During her years of public school work Flora Hobson Welch exerted a lasting impression on the lives of those young people who were so fortunate as to come under her influence. As a teacher she had few equals and no superiors. She was sympathetic, yet firm, and possessed that complete understanding of the problems of childhood which caused her pupils to fairly worship her. It was rarely necessary for her to command as her wishes brought instant co-operation. The world was made better, brighter and more cheery because of her influence. Hundreds of her former pupils and fast friends will long cherish her in sacred memory.