Elizabeth “Betsy” Welborn Fenner, 82, of Evansville, IN went to be with the Lord on December 8, 2020 at the Jewish Hospital in Louisville, KY. She was born on January 11, 1938 to the late Mack M. and Mary Elizabeth “Betty” (Allen) Jones in York, Pennsylvania. She is survived by her husband, C. Douglas Fenner of Evansville, IN and her four children from her 31 year marriage to the late William Calvert Welborn Jr, attorney, of Evansville, IN: Kathy (Jay) Welborn Craig, William (Joanne) Calvert Welborn III, Dawn (Randy) Lynn Welborn-Mabrey, and Elizabeth (John) Allen Dailey; 6 Grandchildren: Megan Dailey and Brianna (Josh) Dailey Pierce, Jason and Katelyn Craig, Sean and André Mabrey; 1 Great grandchild: Matthew Craig; her Brother, William O. Jones and sister-in-law Judy Jones, and nephew Derek (Stephanie) C. Jones of Denver, CO., and a loving extended family.
Betsy was a devoted daughter, caring for her mother to her final days, loving wife, nurturing mother, wonderful sister, adoring grandmother, great-grandmother aunt and great aunt, a loyal and available friend and a humble servant of the Lord. The home of her heart was in the hills of Kentucky with her grandparents and her extended family. From early childhood, she loved nature, especially the creeks and farmland of her rural family’s home.
She met her first husband William C. Welborn Jr. at Bosse High School. She moved with her family to Western Springs, Illinois, and completed her senior year at Lyons High School. They were married Christmas Eve, 1956 and returned to Evansville, IN. William Calvert Welborn Sr’s wedding gift to them was his beloved Lombard Ave home to share with him and start her family. She cared for him until his death at 96. She raised four children with the patience of a saint while she filled her home with love and beauty. She was a member of the Newburgh Women’s Club and Legal Mrs. in Evansville. She was a lifelong member of the Methodist Temple where she found her ministry through the gardening and flower committees.
In 1989 Betsy found a second chance at love with C. Douglas Fenner, a French teacher at Evansville Day School, who was leading a divorce support group at his church, Bethel UCC in Evansville. At the end of the first meeting of the group, it was suggested that they might all go together to Denny’s to have coffee and refreshments. As they were leaving the church, Betsy was walking beside Doug and said to him in a quiet voice: “Let’s go where the others aren’t”. So they went to Bob Evans. Nine months later, Doug proposed to Betsy at the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, and they were married on March 31, 1991 at the Methodist Temple. She continued her journey together with him as loving companions to the end of her days.
Betsy was a watercolor artist who worked in a realistic style and especially enjoyed painting the charming cobblestone streets of small French towns. She enjoyed collecting antiques for her beloved riverfront Newburgh home which she filled with people, pets and laughter, always laughter! She crafted her skills as an artist, homemaker, and gardener throughout her life. Gardening and nature brought her immeasurable joy and was a passion she shared and passed on to her loving family. She found God’s beauty in the smallest of His Creations and took the time to speak of it and appreciate it.
She finished in beauty! Elle a fini en beauté!
Memorial service will be held at 11:00am on Friday Dec. 18, 2020 at the Methodist Temple 2109 Lincoln Ave., Evansville, IN, officiated by Rev. Andy Payton. Friends may visit on Thursday Dec. 17, from 4:00-7:00pm and Friday from 10:00am until service time at the church. The service will be livestreamed through the Methodist Temple. COVID safe precautions will be observed. A spring Celebration of Life will be held, TBA.
Memorial contributions can be made in her honor to the Methodist Temple, Betsy Fenner Memorial Fund
Condolences may be made online at www.AlexanderEastChapel.com.
