Lillian Elizabeth Welch

She was born May 27, 1929 in Hendersonville, North Carolina to Albert F. Hamilton and Bessie P. Hamilton. She retired as a Registered Nurse from Presbyterian Hospital. She was a charter member of Good Shepherd United Methodist Church where she was a member of the Navigators Sunday School Class and Out and About Seniors Group. She will be remembered as a loving daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, aunt, and friend with a tough yet gentle spirit who was always fun to be around.

Lil was the youngest of five having three brothers and one sister. Affectionately called “Babe”, she quickly learned to stand her ground. Growing up with a handicapped brother, she adamantly defended those unable to stand up for themselves. She graduated from North Carolina Baptist School of Nursing in 1951 and married the love of her life, Tal, soon after. After an initial time in nursing, she elected to become a stay-at-home mom. She raised her son and daughter, participating in all their activities, and later returned to work retiring as the Head Nurse of the Major Surgery floor at Presbyterian Hospital. She was a 50 plus years breast cancer survivor.

In her retirement, Lil and Tal enjoyed traveling throughout the United States making 3 cross country tours, and later traveled to England, Scotland, Hong Kong, Alaska, and Nova Scotia. During Tal’s terminal illness in 2006, Lil used her nursing skills again to take care of him until his death.

She most enjoyed mowing and tending to her 4 acres of land growing a large garden and planting trees and flowers. She wore many a shovel head down to the handle! She played basketball in high school and continued an active lifestyle playing tennis, bowling, and boating. Her grandkids were proud that she played basketball with them well into her 70’s and beat them! She enjoyed watching college basketball loudly rooting for her 2 favorite teams - UNC and “whoever was playing Duke”. She loved cooking vegetables from her garden and could bake a killer pound cake. She was an avid reader and adored children and animals.

She is survived by her sister, Colleen Burke of Louisville, KY; son, Sid Welch (Denisa) of Clover, SC; daughter, Sharon Robbins of Banner Elk, NC; granddaughter Brittany Davis (Jared); grandsons Landon Welch and Spencer Robbins (Maria); and eight great grandchildren Aiko, Austin, Noah, Makenna, Ada Jane, Lilla, Schaffer and Parker.

The family wishes to thank caregivers Teneille Gayles, Faith Waygbeh and Sarah Dorliae for their years of service and making it possible for Lil to live at home in her final days.

An online Celebration of Life will take place at www.youtube.com/GSUMCvideo on February 6th at 11:00 am with a graveside service immediately following at Magnolia Memorial Gardens – 5801 Pineville-Matthews Road, Charlotte, NC (behind Calvary Church, the corner of Rea Road and Highway 51). Rev. Talbot Davis will officiate.

Condolences may be offered at www.mcewenpinevillechapel.com.