Dateline: Alton



Helen May Welsh, 81, died at 9:22 p.m. Monday, November 1, 2010 at St. Johns Mercy Hospital in St. Louis, MO. Born February 17, 1929 in Harlingen, TX, she was the daughter of Fred and Louisa (Hudson) Howell. She retired from the Illinois American Water Company in Alton. She was a member of the Twelfth Street Presbyterian Church where she served as a deacon and was active in the Womens Group. She was a member of Leisure Friends and enjoyed gardening and sewing. On May 13, 1950 in Wood River, she married James H. Welsh Jr. He preceded her in death on October 1, 2003. Surviving is a daughter, Susan D. Gillespie of Alton, two sons, John C. Welsh and his wife Karen of Grafton and Thomas E. Welsh and his wife Jan of Palmerston North, New Zealand, seven grandchildren; Andrew Gillespie, Emily Gillespie, James K. Welsh, Stacy Cavanaugh, Sarah Mathis, Reuben Welsh and Katie Welsh, three great grandchildren; Samantha Velasco, Leah Welsh and Kate Mathis, two sisters, LaMora Sullivan of Vancouver, Washington and Louise Shumway and her husband Marvin of Wood River, a sister-in-law, Virginia Youngberg of Alton and numerous nieces and nephews. Visitation will be from 4:00-8:00 p.m. Friday at Gent Funeral Home in Alton where funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday. Reverend David Olson will officiate. Burial will be at Valhalla Memorial Park in Godfrey. Memorials may be made to the Twelfth Street Presbyterian Church.


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