Obituary of Bernice Evelyn Welke

Bernice Evelyn Welke June 29, 1919 - July 30, 2014 Bernice was born in Galveston, Texas, to Fredricka and Gustav Robinson, the eldest of their 3 children and part of an extended family of 11 siblings. After graduating from Ball High School, she became a dental assistant and shortly thereafter met her beloved Ed, a teacher and coach, whom she married shortly before his enlisting in WWII. Bernice and Ed moved to La Marque, Texas, where they raised their family and lived for over 25 years. A long-time member of Galveston's Varsity Club, she was also a member of the hospital auxiliary and a devoted mother and homemaker. She made many treasured friends in Texas who continued to love and support her throughout her long life. The next part of their adventure began in the early 70's after Ed retired as an executive at Union Carbide and began a new career with SOHIO/BP that resulted in an eventual transfer to Anchorage, Alaska. Bernice loved the beauty of Alaska and being a part of the exciting trans-Alaska pipeline era and - as always - made many friends. Ed's job eventually took them to California and building a home in Alamo in the East Bay. They enjoyed gardening and creating a new home together, and they loved their many neighbors and friends and spending time with their children and grandchildren. Bernice was an avid bridge player and a member of the Alamo Women's Club. She was known for her love of cooking, always willing to share her wonderful recipes with anyone she met. Following her husband's death in 1990, Bernice continued to be active until the last few months of her life and could be seen driving her vintage Buick to the Alamo Safeway where she loved to chat with many of the clerks who knew her on a first name basis while she shopped for what she needed to prepare her miraculous concoctions. She passed away on July 30 at the age of 95, having recently celebrated her birthday with a group of close friends and being inundated with calls from across the country from those who loved her and wished her well. Bernice is survived by her daughter, Carol Arabian, of Alamo and son, Bob Welke, of Ft. Worth, Texas, 2 grandchildren: Virginia Allen of McLean, Virginia, and Ward Welke of Jupiter, Florida, and 5 great granddaughters: Caroline and Hope Welke and Alice, Annabelle and Adele Allen. She is also survived by many relatives and friends who loved her dearly, including her friend, Bert Rible, who made the last few years of her life so much easier by driving her to places where she could no longer go on her own. Her amazing, loving presence will be missed. Bernice will be buried with her husband in San Antonio, Texas, at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery.