On May 16, 2021, at the age of 95, Carol Holton Welk went to be with her Lord Jesus.

Carol was born in St. Louis, Missouri, on November 11,1925 to James and Caroline Holton. She attended high school at the Ursuline Academy in Arcadia, Missouri and graduated from the College of New Rochelle in New Rochelle, New York (1947). In 1952, Carol followed her twin brother, Carl Holton, to the Northwest and settled in Spokane, WA. She worked as a social worker for Catholic Charities and joined the Excelsior Club (a Catholic young adult group) where she met her future husband, Peter Welk. Carol was preceded in death by her husband of 58 years, Peter Welk Sr, and is survived by five children:  Peter (1959), Stephen (1961), Bernard (1963), Jerome (1965) and Barbara (1969) and five grandchildren: Marcia, David, Lisa, Chrystal and John Welk.

First and foremost, Carol was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother - a "homemaker" in the truest sense of the word. Her outstanding contribution to her family and to those around her was her simple and genuine faith in the Lord. Carol faith became very real to her in the 1970's through her involvement in the Catholic Charismatic Renewal. Her faith motivated her to facilitate "faith-sharing" groups and to perform acts of service springing from her love for the Lord and desire to please Him. She loved to worship Him and attended daily mass in her later years.

Carol excelled at giving hospitality to promote fellowship and build community. All kinds of people received a warm welcome into Carol's home. Her tireless hospitality was also to be found at the extended family home at Welk Spring Creek Acres. Unbelievable meals and gifts of fresh vegetables from the garden were supplied to guests at the farm. The "farm" gatherings remain a memorial to all those who participated in them.

Through most of her life, Carol enjoyed the outdoors, displayed a touch of adventure and loved to ride horseback. She was classy, gentle, matter-of-fact, non-judgmental, generous, prayerful, a card-shark, sweet and simple. She never shirked what life brought, and as such, was an anchor to her extended family all her life. She will be greatly missed. As Carol would always say at the end of a phone call. "Peace be with you"!