Patricia Ann Welbourn

Pat Welbourn finished her race and entered eternity on Easter Sunday, April 12, 2020. Born October 29, 1931 to Rachel Louise (Bailey) and Jesse Otis Stone, her full name was Julia Patricia Ann Stone. She loved to tell people that she was an “Okie from Muskogee” (Oklahoma) and it was the truth! Her older sister, Betty Lou, died when Pat was only a year old. Her younger brother was George Peter, whom she adored and helped her mother raise when her parents were divorced and her mother moved with the two kids to California.

At age 16 Pat went to work in the circulation and classifieds departments of the Daily News, a Los Angeles newspaper where her earnings helped put food on her family’s table. That same year, at Wilshire Baptist Church, she met her future husband, Marshall Edward Welbourn (Ed), fresh back from Germany and France, having survived the Battle of the Bulge and involvement in post-war reconstruction in Germany. After graduating high school, Pat began dating Ed, who was 7 years her senior. Ed was at UCLA but soon transferred to USC, where they offered a major in Petroleum Engineering, a choice that would provide a stable and long career. In June, 1952, he received his Master’s in Petroleum Engineering and they married the following weekend. Hired by Shell Oil, the newlyweds moved often in the Shell Trainee program.

Their path with Shell Oil began in California but ran through Montana, the Dakotas, Colorado, and back to Montana and California, ultimately landing them in Texas. Along the way, as a stay-at-home mother, Pat became an excellent cook, raised three kids, taught Sunday school, became a discussion leader, administrator and teaching leader in the Bible Study Fellowship organization, maintained her home and remained a devoted and loving wife plus a super mom. She and Ed were very happily married throughout their 63 year marriage – a great example to their kids and to their kids’ friends who spent many hours hanging around the Welbourn household, eating Pat’s cooking, enjoying her great sense of humor and warm hospitality. Pat’s numerous “adopted sons and daughters” still love her, remembering her kindness to them and continued interest in them over the years.

Pat was genuinely interested in people. She was “networking” before that was ever a thing! It never failed that when learning about someone she was just meeting for the first time, she would know someone they knew, could tell them just where they could get something done or introduce them to others who could help get them connected. And then, she’d follow up with them later, remembering all the details of their family, job, circumstances, etc. She made people feel valued and cared for. When people were moving to other parts of the country she was always ready with a recommendation of a good church in their new city.

In their later life, Pat & Ed moved to Eagles Trace retirement community in West Houston and really enjoyed serving there as hosts to people coming through the marketing department, using her love of hospitality and good cooking to lure new people to moving in. They made many friends there and enjoyed the lock-and-leave lifestyle to pursue a favorite pastime, travel, mostly international.

Pat is survived by her daughter Valerie Lefaive (Mark), sons Eric (Debbie) and Bruce (Ruth); seven grandchildren: Brent (Emily) Lefaive, Andrew Lefaive, Erica Lefaive, Rebecca Welbourn, Jami (Josh) Dyer, Brandon (Ali) Welbourn and Sally Welbourn. She leaves two precious great grandchildren, Sadie and Marshall Dyer. Her nieces, who were very dear to her, are Lisa Litzinger, Dana Spreen and Jami Piercy, all of California.

Due to Covid19 restrictions, a small graveside service is scheduled for April 20, 2020 at Memorial Oaks Cemetery in West Houston where Pat’s long-time and much-loved pastor, Tom Douthit, will officiate. The family hopes to celebrate Pat’s life at BridgePoint Bible Church, 13277 Katy Fwy., Houston, 77077 at a later date to be determined. Remembrances in lieu of flowers can be directed to BridgePoint Bible Church Benevolence Fund, Eagles Trace Community Benevolence Fund or the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.