Lydia George Welch

She was 95 years old. She was born on January 12, 1926 to Abraham and Leina George, one of the

pioneer families of Delray Beach. She was the youngest daughter and the sixth of

eight children (five boys and three girls). She was born above her family’s

haberdashery on Atlantic Avenue; the store having been founded in 1911 as A.

George & Sons.

Lydia attended Florida State College for Women. In 1947 she was a member

of the last graduating class of Florida State College for Women and the first

graduating class of Florida State University.

In 1950 she married John M. Welch, Jr., who was part of the Chalhub family

that helped pioneer West Palm Beach. They had two children, Robert M. W.

Shalhoub and C. Debra Welch. She was widowed in 1997.

Along with her mother-in-law, Edna Chalhub Panutsos, she operated Fashion

Fabrics. The novel and modern fabric store was located within the Carefree Center

complex in West Palm Beach.

In the 1960’s she returned to college and attended Florida Atlantic University

from which she earned her secondary education teaching certificate. For almost 30

years she enjoyed a successful and distinguished teaching career in her hometown

of Delray Beach. She first worked at Carver High School and then at Carver Middle

School where she taught Business, English, and Typing. She remained in contact

with many of her students as she cheered on their successes. Countless students

credited her with teaching them valuable skills and life lessons.

She was a lifelong member and one of the founding families of St. Mary's

Orthodox Church in West Palm Beach which was established in 1959.

She is survived by her only remaining sibling, her beloved brother, Dr. Robert

A. George and his wife Josette, her son Robert M. W. Shalhoub and his wife,

Bernadette, her daughter C. Debra Welch, her granddaughter Christina Shalhoub

Seal, and her husband, Keith, her grandson, Paul Shalhoub, and his wife, Danielle.

She is also survived by six great-grandchildren, Alexander, Nicholas, Elizabeth, and

Jacob Seal, and Vivian and Oliver Shalhoub, numerous cousins, nephews and nieces.She will always be remembered for her grace, compassion, and kindness

toward others. She was an inspiration to her family and friends as she lived her life

by the Golden Rule, well known and respected for treating others as she wanted to

be treated.

Arrangements are being provided through Quattlebaum Funeral Home. Due

to the Covid-19 Pandemic, funeral services will be private. Interment will be at

Woodlawn Cemetery in West Palm Beach. In lieu of flowers, donations may be

made in her memory to St. Mary's Orthodox Church located at 1317 Florida Mango

Rd., West Palm Beach, FL 33406, St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, or the Parkinson's Foundation.