Barbara Ellen (Edwards) Welch

Barbara Edwards Welch passed away Sunday, April 14.

Barbara was born in Maryland in 1944 and spent her early years in Maryland and Pennsylvania before her family settled in Harford County.   She graduated from Bel Air High School in 1962 and later attended community college and worked in the Baltimore area, for a time with Westinghouse.

For nearly 25 years, Barbara and her husband and children resided in Charlottesville, Virginia, where she worked as a secretary for various University of Virginia medical departments, including the dermatology department and neuropsychology departments, among others.  During much of this time, she was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church where she sang in the choir and volunteered to help with the church’s congregational newsletter.  Barbara always had a fondness for music.  She also volunteered at her children’s private school and was involved with several Christian women’s organizations.

After retirement due to health reasons, Barbara returned to Maryland in the early 2000's. She enjoyed crosswords, classic 1950s and 1960s TV shows, and her terrier Jasper. Barbara is survived by her ex-husband, Jim Welch; son, Steffan Clark Welch; daughter, Lisa Welch VanDyke; son-in-law John VanDyke; two grandchildren, Samuel James VanDyke, Rachel Elaine (Chance) McClain and great-granddaughter, Patience McClain.

Barbara was preceded in death by her parents, Richard Watson Edwards, and Elaine Bryant Edwards; sister, Sandra Edwards Schillinger Derickson; and brother, Darryl Emmet Edwards

A memorial service will be held Saturday, April 20 at 11:00 a.m. at McComas Funeral Home—Bel Air, 50 West Broadway, Bel Air, Maryland followed by interment at Bel Air Memorial Gardens, 809 Rock Spring, Bel Air, Maryland.  Flowers are welcome – Barbara’s favorite color was blue – or donations to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society would be appreciated. (https://secure.nationalmssociety.org/site/Donation2?df_id=55995&55995.donation=form1)