Marjorie (Gates) Welfare

WESTLAKE - Marjorie (Gates) Welfare, 102, passed away April 18, 2022, at Vitalia Senior Living Center in Stow, Ohio.

Marjorie was born in Columbus, Ohio and lived in the shadow of The Ohio State University on W. 14th Street. She attended The OSU from 1938-1942 where she graduated Magna Cum Laude with a BA in Education and was honored to be elected to serve as the president of Mortar Board. Upon graduation, she was an elementary school teacher in Ashland, Ohio and also taught first grade for many years in Lakewood, Ohio until she retired in 1988.

She married Richard G. Welfare in 1948 and was preceded by him in death, after 50 wonderful years of marriage, in 1998. Marge was active at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Lakewood and was a member of their choir for 65 years. Marge, or known fondly by many as Nana, enjoyed sporting events of any kind, but mostly enjoyed watching OSU games, Cleveland sports teams or anything in which her family was involved. She was an avid journalist and could be relied upon to retrieve obscure and often humorous details of her family’s history amongst her many journal entries. She also enjoyed reading novels, working puzzles, and playing games of any kind. Her annual winter trips to Boca Grande Florida provided many friendships and cherished memories.

Preceded in death by her parents, Jewell and Flora Gates and siblings, Marian, Janet, and Burton, Marge is survived by her three children, Richard Alan Welfare [Kathy], Gregory Todd Welfare [Patti], and Carol Welfare Reginald [John]; her eleven grandchildren, Heather (Welfare) Slacker [Doug], Jeremy Welfare, Libby (Welfare) Buckley [Tim], Garrett Welfare [Angela], Sean Welfare [Katie], MacKenzie (Welfare) Oakes [Aaron], Kelly (Reginald) Hydeck [Chris], Lindsay (Reginald) Smith [Scott], Lauren (Reginald) Pauley [Brian], Courtney (Reginald) Sari [Brian], and Bryan Reginald; twenty great grandchildren, Kayela (Welfare) Steele [Kamari], Kyle Welfare, Brody Welfare, Blake Welfare, Brooklyn Welfare, Taylor McGuire, Aaron Slacker, Devon Slacker, Jack Buckley, Avery Buckley, Audrey Welfare, Tanner Welfare, Wesley Welfare, Calvin Welfare, Desmond Welfare, John Joseph Hydeck, Carter Smith, Cole Smith, Brady Pauley and Riley Pauley; and nieces and nephews, Kathy Gates Young [Larry], Richard Gates [Barbara], David Bennett [Betsy], Barbara Bennett Morison, Gordon Ehrman [Lynne], and Sue Thielking [Karl]. Her greatest joy was always the blessing of her loving family. She loved us well.

A memorial service will be held at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 18001 Detroit Avenue, Lakewood, OH 44107, on Saturday, June 4 at 1:00 PM.