Regina Victoria Welge's Obituary
Regina Victoria Hunger Welge, 89, died Monday, February 13, 2006 after a long battle with Alzheimer?s. She was born to Fred W. Hunger and Frances Richers Hunger in LaGrange, Texas on November 21, 1916.
She met her future husband, Jack Herman Welge while at Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas then, Southwest Texas College and was married shortly after graduation in 1936. After marriage, the couple moved to Austin, Texas where Jack went to work for the Texas Employment Commission and Regina began a teaching career that would span almost 5 decades. World War II saw Jack become a Naval Officer after Midshipman?s School at Columbia University in New York City and Regina become a homemaker assisting her husband. After World War II, both returned to Austin to begin a family and resume their lives. A life long teacher and resident of Austin, Texas until her untimely illness, Regina Welge continued teaching moving from Austin High School to Travis High School where she taught Office Practice, Shorthand, and Bookkeeping, and on to Crockett High School where she began the Vocational Office Program ?VOE?. She continued teaching VOE at Crockett High School only retiring following her husband?s death in 1981.
A caregiver from birth, Regina had cared for her parents in her home since the onset of the father?s illness in 1962. Following both her Father?s and her husband?s deaths, she continued caring for her mother, Frances Richers Hunger, in her home until her mother?s death in 1987.
Regina was a life long member of the University United Methodist Church of Austin, Texas where she and her husband transferred their memberships shortly after the war. Prior to her illness, she was very active in the Inquirers Class and served as a lay Eucharistic minister taking communion to those unable to attend Church Services.
Regina Welge was a life member of the American Association of University Women ?AAUW?, and The Heritage Society of Austin, She was a member of the Austin Symphony League, the Tri?L Club, Southwest Texas State University Alumni Association, Texas Vocational Technical Association, American Vocational Association, Texas State Teachers Association, Texas Retired Teachers Association, The American Heart Association, Naval Reserve Association, National Association of Uniformed Services, and the Texas Ex-Students Association.
Following her retirement from classroom instruction and until the onset of her illness, she built and ran Mid Texas Management, a real estate holding company and leasing firm. She leaves as a legacy her boundless energy, love of life and family, and love of her Savior, Jesus Christ.
Regina was preceded in death by her husband, Jack Herman Welge and her parents, Fred W. Hunger and Frances Richers Hunger. She is survived by her son, Jack H. Welge, Jr., and his wife, Ava Avent Welge, and two granddaughters, Kirsten Welge and Kathleen Welge.
Graveside services will be held 10 AM Saturday, February 18, 2006 in the New City Cemetery of LaGrange, Texas with the Reverend Carol Petty officiating under direction of Rader Funeral Home of Longview.
The family will receive friends from 6 until 8 PM on Thursday, February 16, 2006 at Rader Funeral Home, 1617 Judson Rd.
Memorials may be made to the University United Methodist Church of Austin, Texas or to the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children.
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