Thelma Lucy was born February 21, 1923 to Lillie Pearl (Wiley) and Richard Raymond Welch on the Welch ranch 17 1/2 miles West of Campo, in Baca County, Colorado. Thelma was raised in the rock and mud house that their father Dick built. The Welch family owned a sheep and cattle ranch, along with a few horses.
The Welch family included 4 girls and 2 boys. Bessie came first, with Thelma following. Nellie, Douglas, Dale and Mary came in succession.
In the 1930 census, Thelma was listed as 7 years old and living with her parents and siblings in Carriso, Baca County, Colorado. Her father is listed as a "farmer" on a "General Farm".
All of the Welch children were expected to contribute to the survival of the family, which was a daily concern on the isolated ranch in southern Colorado. A great deal of the weight fell onto the older children, Thelma and Bessie.
Thelma's parents separated in her youth, and eventually Thelma left the ranch. Having learned to work hard as a youth, Thelma worked hard as a young woman, often picking in the fields.
In 1946, Thelma met her husband to be, Willis Allen Atwell, in Albuquerque, Bernalillo County, New Mexico. Willis was born 22 September 1924 in Livingston, Kentucky to Liza Lowdusky (Harp) and Ulysses Grant Atwell. Married briefly before Thelma, Willis had a son from that marraige.
On June 11, 1946, Thelma married Willis Allen Atwell. Their children included James Allen, Luther Lee, Jewel Dean, and Willis Grant. They lost one child at birth, Rosie Marie.
Willis who was known as Slim, Willie or to family as "Pappy", was a hard working man who specialized in farming. Up before sunup and working late into the evening, Slim provided for his family. As the children grew, they became integral to the working of the family business.
Once Slim was staying at a hotel that caught on fire. Running from the flames, Slim was on fire and someone grabbed him and helped him to extinguish the flames. It couldn't have been a closer life and death experience, and after a painful recuperation from his burns, he returned to the demanding hours of the farmer.
The Atwell family lived on at least a couple of farms in the San Joaquin Valley, including French Camp, California. In addition to farming, they raised livestock to supplement their income and dinner table. Eventually, the Atwells settled in Alpaugh, California, a very small town in Tulare County.
Willis Allen Atwell died 5 Oct 1986 in Alpaugh and he is buried in District Cemetery.
Thelma lived for two decades following the death of her "Pappy" and often talked of how much she missed him. However, she enjoyed the fact that all of her children had settled into either Alpaugh or a closeby community. On April 10, 2005, Thelma also passed away in Alpaugh.
The Welch family included 4 girls and 2 boys. Bessie came first, with Thelma following. Nellie, Douglas, Dale and Mary came in succession.
In the 1930 census, Thelma was listed as 7 years old and living with her parents and siblings in Carriso, Baca County, Colorado. Her father is listed as a "farmer" on a "General Farm".
All of the Welch children were expected to contribute to the survival of the family, which was a daily concern on the isolated ranch in southern Colorado. A great deal of the weight fell onto the older children, Thelma and Bessie.
Thelma's parents separated in her youth, and eventually Thelma left the ranch. Having learned to work hard as a youth, Thelma worked hard as a young woman, often picking in the fields.
In 1946, Thelma met her husband to be, Willis Allen Atwell, in Albuquerque, Bernalillo County, New Mexico. Willis was born 22 September 1924 in Livingston, Kentucky to Liza Lowdusky (Harp) and Ulysses Grant Atwell. Married briefly before Thelma, Willis had a son from that marraige.
On June 11, 1946, Thelma married Willis Allen Atwell. Their children included James Allen, Luther Lee, Jewel Dean, and Willis Grant. They lost one child at birth, Rosie Marie.
Willis who was known as Slim, Willie or to family as "Pappy", was a hard working man who specialized in farming. Up before sunup and working late into the evening, Slim provided for his family. As the children grew, they became integral to the working of the family business.
Once Slim was staying at a hotel that caught on fire. Running from the flames, Slim was on fire and someone grabbed him and helped him to extinguish the flames. It couldn't have been a closer life and death experience, and after a painful recuperation from his burns, he returned to the demanding hours of the farmer.
The Atwell family lived on at least a couple of farms in the San Joaquin Valley, including French Camp, California. In addition to farming, they raised livestock to supplement their income and dinner table. Eventually, the Atwells settled in Alpaugh, California, a very small town in Tulare County.
Willis Allen Atwell died 5 Oct 1986 in Alpaugh and he is buried in District Cemetery.
Thelma lived for two decades following the death of her "Pappy" and often talked of how much she missed him. However, she enjoyed the fact that all of her children had settled into either Alpaugh or a closeby community. On April 10, 2005, Thelma also passed away in Alpaugh.
Thelma Lucy was born February 21, 1923 to Lillie Pearl (Wiley) and Richard Raymond Welch on the Welch ranch 17 1/2 miles West of Campo, in Baca County, Colorado. Thelma was raised in the rock and mud house that their father Dick built. The Welch family owned a sheep and cattle ranch, along with a few horses.
The Welch family included 4 girls and 2 boys. Bessie came first, with Thelma following. Nellie, Douglas, Dale and Mary came in succession.
In the 1930 census, Thelma was listed as 7 years old and living with her parents and siblings in Carriso, Baca County, Colorado. Her father is listed as a "farmer" on a "General Farm".
All of the Welch children were expected to contribute to the survival of the family, which was a daily concern on the isolated ranch in southern Colorado. A great deal of the weight fell onto the older children, Thelma and Bessie.
Thelma's parents separated in her youth, and eventually Thelma left the ranch. Having learned to work hard as a youth, Thelma worked hard as a young woman, often picking in the fields.
In 1946, Thelma met her husband to be, Willis Allen Atwell, in Albuquerque, Bernalillo County, New Mexico. Willis was born 22 September 1924 in Livingston, Kentucky to Liza Lowdusky (Harp) and Ulysses Grant Atwell. Married briefly before Thelma, Willis had a son from that marraige.
On June 11, 1946, Thelma married Willis Allen Atwell. Their children included James Allen, Luther Lee, Jewel Dean, and Willis Grant. They lost one child at birth, Rosie Marie.
Willis who was known as Slim, Willie or to family as "Pappy", was a hard working man who specialized in farming. Up before sunup and working late into the evening, Slim provided for his family. As the children grew, they became integral to the working of the family business.
Once Slim was staying at a hotel that caught on fire. Running from the flames, Slim was on fire and someone grabbed him and helped him to extinguish the flames. It couldn't have been a closer life and death experience, and after a painful recuperation from his burns, he returned to the demanding hours of the farmer.
The Atwell family lived on at least a couple of farms in the San Joaquin Valley, including French Camp, California. In addition to farming, they raised livestock to supplement their income and dinner table. Eventually, the Atwells settled in Alpaugh, California, a very small town in Tulare County.
Willis Allen Atwell died 5 Oct 1986 in Alpaugh and he is buried in District Cemetery.
Thelma lived for two decades following the death of her "Pappy" and often talked of how much she missed him. However, she enjoyed the fact that all of her children had settled into either Alpaugh or a closeby community. On April 10, 2005, Thelma also passed away in Alpaugh.
The Welch family included 4 girls and 2 boys. Bessie came first, with Thelma following. Nellie, Douglas, Dale and Mary came in succession.
In the 1930 census, Thelma was listed as 7 years old and living with her parents and siblings in Carriso, Baca County, Colorado. Her father is listed as a "farmer" on a "General Farm".
All of the Welch children were expected to contribute to the survival of the family, which was a daily concern on the isolated ranch in southern Colorado. A great deal of the weight fell onto the older children, Thelma and Bessie.
Thelma's parents separated in her youth, and eventually Thelma left the ranch. Having learned to work hard as a youth, Thelma worked hard as a young woman, often picking in the fields.
In 1946, Thelma met her husband to be, Willis Allen Atwell, in Albuquerque, Bernalillo County, New Mexico. Willis was born 22 September 1924 in Livingston, Kentucky to Liza Lowdusky (Harp) and Ulysses Grant Atwell. Married briefly before Thelma, Willis had a son from that marraige.
On June 11, 1946, Thelma married Willis Allen Atwell. Their children included James Allen, Luther Lee, Jewel Dean, and Willis Grant. They lost one child at birth, Rosie Marie.
Willis who was known as Slim, Willie or to family as "Pappy", was a hard working man who specialized in farming. Up before sunup and working late into the evening, Slim provided for his family. As the children grew, they became integral to the working of the family business.
Once Slim was staying at a hotel that caught on fire. Running from the flames, Slim was on fire and someone grabbed him and helped him to extinguish the flames. It couldn't have been a closer life and death experience, and after a painful recuperation from his burns, he returned to the demanding hours of the farmer.
The Atwell family lived on at least a couple of farms in the San Joaquin Valley, including French Camp, California. In addition to farming, they raised livestock to supplement their income and dinner table. Eventually, the Atwells settled in Alpaugh, California, a very small town in Tulare County.
Willis Allen Atwell died 5 Oct 1986 in Alpaugh and he is buried in District Cemetery.
Thelma lived for two decades following the death of her "Pappy" and often talked of how much she missed him. However, she enjoyed the fact that all of her children had settled into either Alpaugh or a closeby community. On April 10, 2005, Thelma also passed away in Alpaugh.
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