Alice Jean Welch

Alice Welch passed away on May 20th, 2021 from complications due to Parkinson’s. She was born on August 5, 1937 in the mountains of West Virginia. Her father was a banjo-playing preacher, and her mother was a skillful gardener and seamstress.

She grew up in Clarksburg, West Virginia, where she studied piano and literature. As she finished high school, her piano teacher encouraged her to apply to West Virginia University to continue her musical studies. She was thrilled to be accepted, and thus her life turned in a momentous new direction. In Morgantown, she met Jack Welch at a church party, and soon they were married.

Alice finished a Masters of Music Education at WVU, then taught at Lipscomb College in Nashville for two years. She and Jack settled in Morgantown to raise their two children. Alice was a lifelong piano teacher, educating thousands of students about piano and music over her lifetime. She taught at WVU’s piano program, then moved to Abilene with her family in 1984. She maintained a thriving piano studio for over thirty years, teaching from home and at ACU, and was a dedicated member of the Abilene Music Teachers Association.

Alice and Jack became members at Hillcrest Church of Christ when they moved to Abilene. They were both avid travelers. Alice visited numerous countries in four continents, exploring the world from Hawaii to Vienna to Israel.

She is survived by her son John Welch, JD, daughter Lucy Bartholomee, Ph.D., and two grandchildren, Jack and Ian Bartholomee.

A graveside funeral will be held at Elmwood Memorial Park on Wednesday, May 26th at 2:00 pm, under the direction of The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road.  The family also welcomes everyone at a come-and-go reception at Hillcrest Church of Christ from 4:00-6:00 pm.