James Thomas Welborn

James “Jim” Thomas Welborn was born May 2, 1946 and passed on July 7, 2024 at the age of 78. He is survived by his closest relative, first cousin Rom Welborn of Austin, Texas, and cousins Paul Sansom of Palm Springs, CA, David Smith of Huntsville, AR, and Richard Smith of San Antonio, TX. He was preceded in death by his mother Anna Mae Jones Welborn and his father James M. Welborn. Although Jim never married or had children, he had a number of close friends and a personal assistant, DJ Davsley, who for the past 17 years has given him wonderful care and shared in many of his adventures.

Jim grew up in Lubbock, Texas where his father was a successful oilman. At an early age, he and his parents began traveling the world and he continued to do so throughout his life. Jim had a great passion for history, antiquities and art. He built or remodeled several homes throughout Texas, including Lubbock, Victoria, Quitman, Alba, and Austin, and as far away as Las Vegas, Nevada. Every place he lived he would create with his own worldly design and furnish with beautiful things he had collected on his travels or acquired from his favorite local sources. His last home located near Lake Travis in Austin, where he passed away peacefully this past Sunday, was the culmination of a lifetime of striving for his perfect place to live.

Jim had a love for boats and ships and had been on cruises around the world where he saw many beautiful sunsets that captured his heart. He especially loved to venture into towns and collect pieces from ancient times to display on his walls and decorate with around his home. As a young man, Jim had even owned a small sea going vessel and would often tell people about the pleasure of working on it, and the freedom he felt out on the water.

Jim was a somewhat eccentric person with a unique sense of humor that could emerge almost instantly without thinking. Many times after a particular stream of consciousness outpouring, he would say “I didn’t know what that was going to be” and laugh. He will forever be remembered for his larger than life personality and his many special attributes that retained until the very end.

Visitation will be held at Weed Corley Fish Funeral Home in Lakeway, TX on Thursday, July 11 from 3 pm to 5 pm. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to St Jude Children’s Hospital, Cal Farley Boys Ranch, or a charity of your choice in Jim’s memory.