Dr. Elizabeth Main Welty

Dr. Elizabeth McNaughton (Main) Welty

Dr. Elizabeth McNaughton (Main) Welty passed away peacefully on September 6, 2016, at her home at Rockwood Retirement Community at the age of 101. Dr. Welty, "Lib" to her many friends, was born in Harrisburg, PA, on March 18, 1915, to William R. Main and Helen Christine Fellows Main. Dr. Welty's 100th birthday on March 18, 2015 was celebrated by many of her friends from around Spokane and the world, with parties at Rockwood Community Center, the home of her friend Peter Moye, and a special tribute concert by the Spokane Symphony. Dr. Welty lived in Harrisburg, PA, for the early part of her life. She remembered the early part of her life in Swarthmore fondly with brothers Malcolm Gardner Main and William Fellows Main. Malcolm joined the Navy in 1941 and died when his ship was sunk in WWII. A fourth sibling, Barbara Main, died of SIDS.

Dr. Welty was graduated from Swarthmore High School, PA, in 1933, earning the honor of Valedictorian. She was graduated from Mount Holyoke College, MA, in 1937. She received her M.D. degree from Cornell University Medical College in 1941. She did her internship at N. Y. County Public Hospital and her residency at New York Hospital, NYC and went on to receive her Fellow of the American College of Physicians. She met her husband, Robert Welty, MD, at the Hospital at the University of Pennsylvania in 1946. They married in 1948 at a Presbyterian church in Philadelphia, PA. Bob and Lib came to Spokane, WA, in January, 1949 to set up medical practices with Bob's father, Dr. Emil Welty, a general practitioner. Bob was a surgeon and Lib was an internist. They lived on the South Hill for many years. They had no children, but rather adopted the city of Spokane as the way to invest their generous time and talents. Bob predeceased her in 1989. They were members of First Presbyterian Church since moving to Spokane. Dr. Elizabeth was a member of Altrusa International, a member of the Board of Trustees of Whitman College, and deeply involved with the Spokane Symphony. Dr. Welty was awarded an honorary degree from Whitman College, in Walla Walla, WA, in 1994 for her tireless work on behalf of the college. Some of the other organizations to which Lib devoted her time and efforts included Spokane's own MAC, Civic Theater, YWCA, Girl Scouts, Campfire, and Coeur d'Alene Opera.

Lib loved hiking with her husband, Robert; she loved her friends and family who gathered around; she loved the homes she set up with her husband; she loved her gardens with their green buds bursting into colors. She loved! She will long be remembered for her joy, her unbounded enthusiasm, her laughter, her wisdom and her wit. She wished to thank her innumerable friends for their support and encouragement. She lived comfortably and energetically at Rockwood Retirement Communities on the South Hill since 1988. She wished to thank her care givers who took care of her like their own grandmother. In lieu of flowers, she suggested memorial contributions be made to the Spokane Symphony or First Presbyterian Church, the Altrusa International, the Rockwood Resident Foundation (Residence Assistance Fund), or organizations that she so generously supported in her lifetime. The celebration of her life and faith will be held at First Presbyterian Church, 318 S. Cedar St., Spokane, WA on Friday, September 23 at 1:00pm.