VIRGINIA ALICE (MERZ) WELCH
March 14, 1918 ~ August 18, 2016
Virginia Alice (Merz) Welch was born at home in Helvetia, Oregon. Her parents, John and Alice (Yungen) Merz were Swiss immigrants and dairy farmers. She was the seventh of twelve children and although her remarkable family was proud of their heritage, they were firmly rooted in America.
In 1933, the family finally settled into a large house on Meeker Drive in Kalama, Washington. Virginia graduated from Kalama High School in 1936 and attended Pacific University for a year and a half. She married William T. Welch in 1941 and they lived in Kalama, Washington until 2002.
She was a devoted daughter to her beloved parents and her large family frequently gathered at the homestead for dinners and reunions. Virginia was active in the Kalama, Washington community for many years before she returned to full time work in Longview, Washington. She retired as the chief deputy clerk at the Cowlitz County Washington Clerks office in 1982.
Her three daughters, grandchildren, and extended family were the focus of her life. In retirement, she and Bill traveled each winter to Desert Hot Springs in California to golf with their friends. Bill and Virginia moved to the Salmon Creek area of Vancouver, Washington in 2002 to be closer to their children.
After Bill's passing in 2005, Virginia remained in her condo until age 96, when she moved to assisted living at Bonaventure, Salmon Creek. Virginia freely shared her good nature and optimism and led a vital life until her death.
Every day was good if she could talk with a friend or meet a new one. She was the last of her siblings to pass and held her extended family close to her heart. She considered her daughters to be her best friends and was always present to give them help, advice and comfort. She adored her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and was a constant and positive presence in their lives. They will greatly miss the embrace of her smile and arms.
Virginia was preceded in death by her parents and eleven brothers and sisters, her husband Bill Welch, and sons-in-law, Ronald Buck and Martin Sowders. Virginia is survived by her daughters, Penny L. Buck of La Mesa, California, Rebecca Sowders Palm and John Palm of Ridgefield, Washington, and Cindy Jones and Michael Jones of Ridgefield, Washington, along with three grandchildren, Marcus Dean Buck of La Mesa, California, Timmothy Martin Sowders and his children, Zoee, William and Isabella, of Ridgefield, Washington and Lily Jones of Paris, France. She will also be missed by 47 nieces and nephews.
A memorial service was held Sunday, August 28th, 2016 in the Kalama Community Building in Kalama, Wasgubgtib.
Published in The Columbian, Vancouver, Washington on August 23, 2016
March 14, 1918 ~ August 18, 2016
Virginia Alice (Merz) Welch was born at home in Helvetia, Oregon. Her parents, John and Alice (Yungen) Merz were Swiss immigrants and dairy farmers. She was the seventh of twelve children and although her remarkable family was proud of their heritage, they were firmly rooted in America.
In 1933, the family finally settled into a large house on Meeker Drive in Kalama, Washington. Virginia graduated from Kalama High School in 1936 and attended Pacific University for a year and a half. She married William T. Welch in 1941 and they lived in Kalama, Washington until 2002.
She was a devoted daughter to her beloved parents and her large family frequently gathered at the homestead for dinners and reunions. Virginia was active in the Kalama, Washington community for many years before she returned to full time work in Longview, Washington. She retired as the chief deputy clerk at the Cowlitz County Washington Clerks office in 1982.
Her three daughters, grandchildren, and extended family were the focus of her life. In retirement, she and Bill traveled each winter to Desert Hot Springs in California to golf with their friends. Bill and Virginia moved to the Salmon Creek area of Vancouver, Washington in 2002 to be closer to their children.
After Bill's passing in 2005, Virginia remained in her condo until age 96, when she moved to assisted living at Bonaventure, Salmon Creek. Virginia freely shared her good nature and optimism and led a vital life until her death.
Every day was good if she could talk with a friend or meet a new one. She was the last of her siblings to pass and held her extended family close to her heart. She considered her daughters to be her best friends and was always present to give them help, advice and comfort. She adored her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and was a constant and positive presence in their lives. They will greatly miss the embrace of her smile and arms.
Virginia was preceded in death by her parents and eleven brothers and sisters, her husband Bill Welch, and sons-in-law, Ronald Buck and Martin Sowders. Virginia is survived by her daughters, Penny L. Buck of La Mesa, California, Rebecca Sowders Palm and John Palm of Ridgefield, Washington, and Cindy Jones and Michael Jones of Ridgefield, Washington, along with three grandchildren, Marcus Dean Buck of La Mesa, California, Timmothy Martin Sowders and his children, Zoee, William and Isabella, of Ridgefield, Washington and Lily Jones of Paris, France. She will also be missed by 47 nieces and nephews.
A memorial service was held Sunday, August 28th, 2016 in the Kalama Community Building in Kalama, Wasgubgtib.
Published in The Columbian, Vancouver, Washington on August 23, 2016
VIRGINIA ALICE (MERZ) WELCH
March 14, 1918 ~ August 18, 2016
Virginia Alice (Merz) Welch was born at home in Helvetia, Oregon. Her parents, John and Alice (Yungen) Merz were Swiss immigrants and dairy farmers. She was the seventh of twelve children and although her remarkable family was proud of their heritage, they were firmly rooted in America.
In 1933, the family finally settled into a large house on Meeker Drive in Kalama, Washington. Virginia graduated from Kalama High School in 1936 and attended Pacific University for a year and a half. She married William T. Welch in 1941 and they lived in Kalama, Washington until 2002.
She was a devoted daughter to her beloved parents and her large family frequently gathered at the homestead for dinners and reunions. Virginia was active in the Kalama, Washington community for many years before she returned to full time work in Longview, Washington. She retired as the chief deputy clerk at the Cowlitz County Washington Clerks office in 1982.
Her three daughters, grandchildren, and extended family were the focus of her life. In retirement, she and Bill traveled each winter to Desert Hot Springs in California to golf with their friends. Bill and Virginia moved to the Salmon Creek area of Vancouver, Washington in 2002 to be closer to their children.
After Bill's passing in 2005, Virginia remained in her condo until age 96, when she moved to assisted living at Bonaventure, Salmon Creek. Virginia freely shared her good nature and optimism and led a vital life until her death.
Every day was good if she could talk with a friend or meet a new one. She was the last of her siblings to pass and held her extended family close to her heart. She considered her daughters to be her best friends and was always present to give them help, advice and comfort. She adored her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and was a constant and positive presence in their lives. They will greatly miss the embrace of her smile and arms.
Virginia was preceded in death by her parents and eleven brothers and sisters, her husband Bill Welch, and sons-in-law, Ronald Buck and Martin Sowders. Virginia is survived by her daughters, Penny L. Buck of La Mesa, California, Rebecca Sowders Palm and John Palm of Ridgefield, Washington, and Cindy Jones and Michael Jones of Ridgefield, Washington, along with three grandchildren, Marcus Dean Buck of La Mesa, California, Timmothy Martin Sowders and his children, Zoee, William and Isabella, of Ridgefield, Washington and Lily Jones of Paris, France. She will also be missed by 47 nieces and nephews.
A memorial service was held Sunday, August 28th, 2016 in the Kalama Community Building in Kalama, Wasgubgtib.
Published in The Columbian, Vancouver, Washington on August 23, 2016
March 14, 1918 ~ August 18, 2016
Virginia Alice (Merz) Welch was born at home in Helvetia, Oregon. Her parents, John and Alice (Yungen) Merz were Swiss immigrants and dairy farmers. She was the seventh of twelve children and although her remarkable family was proud of their heritage, they were firmly rooted in America.
In 1933, the family finally settled into a large house on Meeker Drive in Kalama, Washington. Virginia graduated from Kalama High School in 1936 and attended Pacific University for a year and a half. She married William T. Welch in 1941 and they lived in Kalama, Washington until 2002.
She was a devoted daughter to her beloved parents and her large family frequently gathered at the homestead for dinners and reunions. Virginia was active in the Kalama, Washington community for many years before she returned to full time work in Longview, Washington. She retired as the chief deputy clerk at the Cowlitz County Washington Clerks office in 1982.
Her three daughters, grandchildren, and extended family were the focus of her life. In retirement, she and Bill traveled each winter to Desert Hot Springs in California to golf with their friends. Bill and Virginia moved to the Salmon Creek area of Vancouver, Washington in 2002 to be closer to their children.
After Bill's passing in 2005, Virginia remained in her condo until age 96, when she moved to assisted living at Bonaventure, Salmon Creek. Virginia freely shared her good nature and optimism and led a vital life until her death.
Every day was good if she could talk with a friend or meet a new one. She was the last of her siblings to pass and held her extended family close to her heart. She considered her daughters to be her best friends and was always present to give them help, advice and comfort. She adored her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and was a constant and positive presence in their lives. They will greatly miss the embrace of her smile and arms.
Virginia was preceded in death by her parents and eleven brothers and sisters, her husband Bill Welch, and sons-in-law, Ronald Buck and Martin Sowders. Virginia is survived by her daughters, Penny L. Buck of La Mesa, California, Rebecca Sowders Palm and John Palm of Ridgefield, Washington, and Cindy Jones and Michael Jones of Ridgefield, Washington, along with three grandchildren, Marcus Dean Buck of La Mesa, California, Timmothy Martin Sowders and his children, Zoee, William and Isabella, of Ridgefield, Washington and Lily Jones of Paris, France. She will also be missed by 47 nieces and nephews.
A memorial service was held Sunday, August 28th, 2016 in the Kalama Community Building in Kalama, Wasgubgtib.
Published in The Columbian, Vancouver, Washington on August 23, 2016
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