Catherine Louise "Kay" Bombarger

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• _UID: B43F9AFB5B4F4186BF7AE2086DC8B9C3CD08

Notes:

WELTY, Catherine "Kay" Catherine "Kay" Louise Bombarger Welty of Jacksonville, FL, passed away on July 25, 2014 at the age of 81after a 10 year struggle with Alzheimer's.
Kay was born on December 6, 1932 to the late Teckla Rivers and Elias Charles Bombarger in Winona, MN, where she spent her formative years and met her future husband, Alan Earl Welty. Kay was a devout Catholic and very proud of her Polish heritage. She graduated with honors from Winona High School in 1950 and briefly attended Winona State Teachers College. Kay and Alan were married in 1951, at which time Alan joined the Air Force. Kay spent the next four years giving birth to two sons, Michael and Christopher, while following Alan from one post to another including bases in Biloxi, MS, Warner Robbins, GA and Atlanta, GA. After being discharged from the service, they moved to St. Paul where Alan attended the University of Minnesota on the GI Bill at which time Kay gave birth to their daughter Theresa.
Upon graduating with a Master's Degree in Urban Planning, Alan accepted a job with the city of Atlanta in the planning department in 1959. While Alan focused on his career, Kay was kept busy raising 3 children, but always made time for playing bridge, bowling in the neighborhood league and performing volunteer work for underprivileged children. Except for a six year period, during which they lived in Manhattan, NY, they remained in Atlanta for most of their marriage, ultimately building a beautiful home on the Chattahoochee River and enjoying their boat, the "Terrie-Kay", on Lake Lanier. Once they became "empty nesters", Kay and Alan traveled extensively at home and abroad until cancer tragically claimed Alan in 1987 at the age of 54.
After Alan's death, Kay moved to Orlando, FL, to be near her son Christopher and her grandchildren. She spent the next several years traveling the country visiting family and friends as well as taking care of a house full of cats. She also made many new friends thru her active involvement in the local "T.O.P.S." group, from which she received several awards and honors. After being diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2005, she moved to a beautiful, assisted living facility in Jacksonville to be near her son Michael and daughter Theresa.
During the last year of Kay's life a miracle occurred. Unknown to most of her family and friends, she and Alan had a son prior to getting married. Still living at home, in their last year of high school and no means of support, the young couple put the baby boy up for adoption in order to give him a better life than they could provide. Born in February of 1950 as Dwight Bombarger, he was later renamed Fred George Herczeg by his adoptive parents. Regretting their decision, Kay and Alan subsequently tried to find Fred, but records had been destroyed and there was no "internet". Thru a miraculous series of events, Kay and her first son Fred, were reunited after 63 years in September of 2013. Kay will be remembered as a loving, kind and generous soul by all who knew her. She was most proud of being a wife and mother who was tremendously devoted to the happiness of her family. Finally, she never recovered from losing her childhood sweetheart in the prime of their lives, but her death has liberated her from a terrible disease and has allowed Kay to join her "soul mate", Alan. She leaves behind four surviving children - her daughter, Theresa Kay of Jacksonville, FL - sons Fred George Herczeg and wife Mary Beth of South Bend, IN; Michael Alan and wife Barbara of Jacksonville, FL; Christopher John and wife Beth of Philadelphia, PA; and Christopher's two children Christopher John II and Alana Swann.
Kay's remains will be buried beside Alan's in a cemetery overlooking her beloved Winona, Minnesota where she had the fondest memories of family and friends. A memorial service honoring Kay will be held at her graveside (Woodlawn Cemetery, Winona, MN) on June 13, 2015 at 3:00 pm for family and friends. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to the (www.alzheimers.org) in her name. Condolences may be expressed to the family via email at kayweltyfamily@gmail.com.
Published in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Feb. 8, 2015

Catherine married Alan Earle Welty in 1951. Alan (son of Milton Fred Welty and Dorothy Louise Anderson) was born on 10 Jul 1932 in , Winona County, Minnesota, USA; died on 25 Apr 1987; was buried in Winona, Winona County, Minnesota, USA, Woodlawn Cemetery. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Living. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Living. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Living. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]