Hazel Weltch

Hazel M. Weltch, 84, of Cape Girardeau died Monday, April 3, 2006, at The Lutheran Home.

She was born April 15, 1921, in Potosi, Mo., daughter of the late Alonzo S. and Maude Essie Cresswell Higginbotham. She and George Loyd Weltch were married Sept. 14, 1946, at Farmington, Mo. He died Dec. 12, 1985.

George was a veteran of World War II.

Mrs. Weltch taught three years in Washington County at Cruise School, five years in Potosi Schools, and 32 years at Franklin School in Cape Girardeau.

She received a bachelor of science degree in education from Southeast Missouri State University, and a master of education degree from the University of Missouri in Columbia.

In 1975, she was listed in Who's Who in Missouri Education.

She was a life member of Missouri State Teacher's Association, AARP, and the Missouri Retired Teacher's Association. She changed her membership from Soule's Chapel Methodist Church near Potosi to Grace United Methodist Church in Cape Girardeau March 22, 1953.

She is survived by a son, Bruce L. Weltch and wife Sunghi of Newark, Del.; a niece, Linda Schaller and husband Jim of San Francisco, Calif.; and a great-niece, Loren Schaller of San Francisco.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband and a brother, Howard Cresswell Higginbotham, who died June 19, 2003.

Friends may call at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home from 5 to 7 p.m. today, and at Grace United Methodist Church Thursday from 9 to 10 a.m.

The funeral will be held at Grace United Methodist Church Thursday at 10 a.m., with the Rev. Scott Moon officiating. Burial will be in Cape County Memorial Park.

Memorials may be made to American Cancer Society, 106 Farrar Drive, Cape Girardeau, Mo., 63701, or to the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 1653, Topeka, Kan., 66601-1653.