Pauline Vonetta Welch

Pauline “Polly” Vonetta (Wood) Welch was born in Seminole, Oklahoma, on May 29,1927, to Tice Edward Wood and Beulah Blondine (Webb) Wood. Edward Allan Wood was Pauline’s only sibling. The family lived in Okemah, Oklahoma. Her grandparents, Charley Webb and Izora (Shropshire) Webb, lived with them.

Pauline attended Pasadena Nazarene College for two years where she was studying to become a nurse. She played basketball during college and was their star player. Pauline felt blessed to be able to live with the Dunlap family during college. The Dunlaps owned a chain of furniture stores in Oklahoma and Texas. She cleaned and helped Mrs. Dunlap prepare for and serve at dinners and parties in their home. She made $50.00 a month, plus room and board. This helped pay her tuition. The next four years, she enjoyed the privilege of working as a nursing assistant in the St. Luke’s Hospital nursery caring for newborn babies.

Pauline met the love of her life, Calvin Lee Welch, while attending college in Pasadena. They dated for two years and were married September 5, 1947. Pauline and Lee had three children; Pamela Sue, Ronald Lee, and Donald Wayne. The boys were born 17 months apart. This made for a busy household full of entertainment and fun. In 1956, Pauline and Lee moved their family from Pasadena to San Luis Obispo, California. This was their home until Lee retired from teaching and they moved to Oklahoma in 1994.

Pauline was a Sunday School teacher to Junior High girls for many years. She also assisted Lee in leading adult Sunday School classes, in both California and Oklahoma, for over 40 years. Pauline loved a party! She was always involved in planning, preparing, and hosting parties. Many parties were larger social events at their church, and countless others were intimate gatherings in their home. God graced her with the spiritual gift of hospitality and a deep love for people. They had many wonderful Sunday School parties in their home. Their three children were surrounded by many great adult mentors and lots of great Christian friends.

After Lee’s retirement, he and Pauline were able to travel and spend time with grandchildren and great-grandchildren. They spent their last few years together in the beautiful Christian retirement community of Southern Plaza in Bethany, Oklahoma. Pauline and Lee had 68 wonderful years together. Lee went home to be with God in May, 2016.

Pauline was gifted at creating lasting friendships and relationships wherever she went. Pauline always expressed how blessed she felt to have so many great people in her life. She has looked forward to Heaven and reuniting with Lee and her many loved ones and friends.

Pauline Vonetta Welch entered her heavenly home on December 26, 2021. Pauline is survived by one daughter, Pam Eggleston and husband, Verle; two sons, Ron Welch and Theresa Flanigan, and Don Welch and wife, Robin; five grandchildren, Sherry Bowman and husband, Matt, Lisa Wood, Ron Welch Jr., Savannah Welch, and Daniel Welch; three great grandchildren, Kylee Lane and husband, Ben, Kaelynn Bowman and fiancé, Gabriel Craig, and Aidan Wood; and one great-great grandchild, Sophia Lane; and multiple nephews, nieces, and cousins.

Pauline was greatly loved and will be missed until we meet again.

Graveside service for Pauline will be held Thursday, December 30, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens (8701 NW Expressway, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73162). Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.chapelhill-okc.com for the Welch family.