I feel blessed and fortunate to have spent 36 years with such an incredible grandfather. I am comforted knowing that he is no longer suffering. He would often talk about the show Touched by an Angel, and stories of angels among us. He has now joined those Angels as Heaven got a little sweeter on October 13, 2018. 
Papa is kind, caring, intelligent and loved his family. We never had a conversation without him telling you how proud he was of us and how he has the best family in the world. I could not agree more. I would tell Papa how proud we are of him and all the sacrifices he has made and love he has shown. He would help a stranger and would always ask what he could do for us even when he was unable to do much for himself. 
I have many great memories of Papa. He  babysat us a lot growing up. He liked to watch classics like Andy Griffith, Bugs Bunny, Matlock and many westerns. He was present for every holiday, birthday, and was our biggest fan at countless ball games.  We would go to breakfast with Papa frequently whether it was your birthday or just a day to catch up.  He never could have enough sugar packets for his coffee, saying " it takes a lot to sweeten me up." Maybe that's why he is so sweet. He would tell us about his ideas and tinkerings and would draw diagrams on the napkins. He was always thinking. He could fix anything.  He could also tell you the best route to take from all of his experience traveling for work.
Papa had a silly side, he would wiggle his ears and make silly faces. He loved to tell jokes and would ask "Have I told this to you before?" no matter what your response he was going to tell you again.  
Papa called my Mom his "Baby Doll," and when I was born I became his "Grand Baby Doll." I will always be your Grand Baby Doll. I love you and miss you dearly. Thank you for always being  a great role model and example to follow. We will all try to carry on in your footsteps, thank you for paving the way for us. 

Papa always referred to me as his, "Big Buddy" and John as his "Little Buddy."  I now find myself calling my son "Buddy" and I imagine it made Papa feel as good as it makes me feel to hear my son say that he is my "Buddy."
If Papa had a vice, it was his sweet tooth. He loaded his coffee with sugar as he always said, "It takes a lot to sweeten me up." That couldn't be farther from the truth. Papa was a loving, patient and kind man. A truly great example of what it meant to be a father, grandfather and great-grandfather. Papa always put others first and was loyal to his family and friends. We didn't have many conversations where he didn't ask me what he could do for me. 
I have very fond memories of growing up with Papa. He was very present in our lives at a young age. He babysat us a lot and always loved to tell us stories of when we were young. He would take us to a movie on Christmas Eve and spend the night with us that night.  On Christmas day, we opened presents together and played.  Papa treated birthdays as a special time and took us out to a special meal .He gave us the best cards (always Hallmark). 
   Papa was always a kid at heart.  He loved to joke around and often told the same jokes multiple times, in case you hadn't heard it before.  His favorite part of the newspaper was the "funny papers." He called it the business section.
Papa not only loved to have a good time, but he had an amazing mind. He taught me how to change my brake pads on my car. He told me that engineers are the laziest people-  are always looking for an easier way to do things. This was meant to be a joke, he didn't thing engineers are lazy  but that their minds are always working to try and make things better and easier. Papa embodied this sentiment even to his last day.
I will miss Papa tremendously but am thankful for the time we had together.  I am proud to have had such a great man as a grandfather and will strive to make my children and grandchildren as proud of me as I am of him.

There are so many stories and jokes to tell. I remember coming home from school and watching Matlock, MacGyver or Walker Texas Ranger with Papa. When my brother and I joined cub scouts, I felt bad for the other kids. They had no idea what there were getting into when it came to the Pinewood Derby. Papa had every tool imaginable and helped us create the coolest, most arrow dynamic cars known to man. He never cared much for sports, but he loved to come support us at our baseball games.
Even as Papa grew older our conversations never faded. He liked to  "shoot the bull and have beef sandwiches!" He was sharp, quick witted and extremely intelligent.  We liked to bounce off ideas off each other and brainstorm  on how we could create things to make life easier. He always talked about using common sense and would say there's often a simple solution right in front of us.  Papa had a great sense of humor.  I can see him now telling one of his many jokes while he wiggles his ears and crosses his eyes. I was never able to pull that maneuver off, I'm convinced that one of his extra brain muscles were responsible for pulling that off.  The last time my Dad and I saw him, he was waiting to get in the dining hall and a couple ladies were blocking the doorway. He honked his horn at them, he looked up at us, smiled and laughed. 
As I think about you, I can't help but smile and think of the great times we shared with you.  We are sad to see you go, but we will see you again in heaven.

Words fall very short when I try to express how much I will miss this amazing man! I loved my stepfather and appreciated all of his wonderful qualities. I truly feel he came into my mothers life as an answered prayer and for almost 17 years they have been completely devoted to each other. His love extended to me and my children and grandchildren as well and we will all forever be impacted in such a positive way by Papa Fred. RIP Fred, I love you.

Graveside Service

Guy Gibbs Wellborn

Annie Hubbard Wellborn

Patsy Church Wellborn

Betty Davis

Karen Morgan and husband, Tim

Mary Katherine Quattlebaum and husband, Trey

Tyler Morgan and wife, Stephanie

John Morgan

Morgan and William Quattlebaum

Katelyn and Luke Morgan

Mr. Wellborn also leaves behind his step-daughter, Audrey Whitley; her children, Thomas Whitley and Elizabeth Couturier; and their families all of whom he loved dearly.

OBITUARY

William Frederick "Fred" Wellborn

June 2, 1929 – October 13, 2018

McEwen Funeral Service-Mint Hill Chapel

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