Category: 1940s

Plato “Tete” Pearson Jr., son of the late Catherine Scurry Pearson and Plato Pearson, Sr., died peacefully on October 22, 2025 at his Covenant Village home.

Tete was known as a person of integrity and generosity, with devotion to family, church, and community. Tete graduated from Gastonia High School and Davidson College after serving in the U.S. Army Infantry during WWII. He married Betty Ann “Bet” Epps in 1949. He is survived by four sons and their wives: Martin and Tami, Rob and Jane, Steve and Nancy, and Joe and Tracee; 13 grandchildren and their spouses; Maria Beaman (William), Christopher Pearson (Kathryn), LeeAnn Dickson (Taylor), Sarah Catherine Huempfner (David), Elizabeth Frost (Charles), Catherine Turner (Ret), Thomas Pearson (Sarah), Stephanie Pearson, David Pearson (Annie), Sydney Wallace (Jared), Rennie Pearson, Annabelle Pearson, Chloe Pearson; and 15 great-grandchildren; and his special friend, Helen Styers. He was predeceased by his sisters, Catherine “Cacky” Pearson Moser and Ann Pearson Thomas; and brother, Charles W. Pearson.

His business career began in family businesses- Gastonia Merchants Oil Co. and Pearsons, Inc. He later became a Vice President of R.S. Dickson & Co., President of Citizens National Bank, President of Branch Corp., Chairman of First Community Bank and Vice President of AB Carter, Inc. Tete served as president of the NC Bankers Association and as a director on the Board of the Federal Reserve.

His involvement in community was honored by several awards: Rotary Paul Harris, Civitan Man of the Year, Community Foundation’s Sims Award, Chamber of Commerce Spirit of the Carolina award, and the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, the North Carolina governor’s highest honor for individuals who have made significant contributions to the state and their communities. He and Bet were jointly awarded The Gaston Literacy Council’s Lifetime Achievement Award. His most satisfying experiences were his roles in establishing the Gastonia Habitat Group, in the funding to establish Covenant Village and helping initiate places for building our current CaroMont hospital. Tete was the Last Chairman of the Highland Street hospital.  

Tete also headed a committee to work with the city to plan, fund and build a pipeline to bring an abundant supply of cleaner water from the Catawba River Basin. He and Bet were instrumental in funding the Life Skills building at Gaston College. They have established several charitable funds for local worthy causes.

Tete was a lifelong member of First ARP Church where he served as Sunday School teacher, Deacon, and Elder Emeritus.

His main joy in life was his 70 years with Bet, his lovely and loving wife.

After a private burial, a memorial service will be held at First ARP Church in Gastonia at 2:00pm on Saturday, November 1, 2025. A reception will follow from 3:00pm until 5:00pm at the Gaston Country Club.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First ARP Church, Gaston Community Foundation, or the Gaston Literacy Council.

Condolence messages may be sent online at mcleanfuneral.com. McLean Funeral Directors of Gastonia is serving the Pearson family.

Robert Brownlee Welsh, who photographed many of Charlotte’s brides, families, and individuals, died January 3, 2025, with a legacy that included World War II service in the Battle of the Bulge that he detailed in an autobiographical book, Two Foes to Fight.  He was 102.  He celebrated his last birthday on November 7 with festivities that lasted a week, including one at his Sunday school class at Myers Park Presbyterian Church, where he had been a member since his senior year in high school and taught Sunday school classes for decades.

Robert Welsh was born in Muskogee, Oklahoma, and lived in Oklahoma City and Tulsa before he finished his senior year at Charlotte’s Central High School.  At Davidson College, he joined ROTC, which led to his being commissioned a second lieutenant in 1942 and joining the 87^th Infantry of General George Patton’s Third Army in October 1944.  In December, Bob saw his first action in the Saar Valley along the German border, then fought as a Tiger Patrol leader at the Battle of the Bulge.  Over the next four months, he marched across Germany to Plauen on the Czechoslovakian border.

But Germany wasn’t all fighting and heroics.  When deployed in the US Zone during the Occupation of Germany, he met the smiling face of the librarian, Marie-Luis “Marlis” Osmers, who conversed in perfect English to win his heart that led—after rolls of red tape—to their marriage and the birth of the first child, Katherine.  He loved to tell the story of paying the German doctor two cartons of cigarettes to deliver Katherine—cigarettes being more valuable than money in post-World War II Germany.

Discharged, he finished at Davidson, then interrupted his studies at the University of North Carolina Law School to begin his photography career to provide for his growing family.  Son Robert, Jr. was born in 1950.  Robert Jr. was struck down by a major stroke at 22 and never fully recovered.  Robert Sr. took a significant role in maintaining a loving life for Robert Jr. until his death at 66, going to lunch with him daily and keeping Robert Jr’s love of playing games alive by playing Cribbage with him each week.

Over the years, Bob Welsh’s award-winning wedding and personal portraits have graced the walls of many Charlotte homes.  He and his family loved to play golf at Carmel Country Club, and in the 1970s, Bob was the program photographer for the Kemper Open at Quail Hollow Country Club.  He and Marlis also enjoyed skiing and were early members of the Charlotte Ski Bees.  Bob taught skiing at Beech Mountain (NC) Ski School when needed.

In retirement, Robert became active in the 87^th Infantry Division and Battle of the Bulge Veteran’s Association, attending meetings and giving speeches about his war exploits.  Retirement also meant time to paint landscapes, portraits, and introspective canvasses, which were used for the covers of two of his other books: Bob’s Theology, poems about his unique perspective of Christianity, and Mystical Enigma (plays about Biblical Scripture, one of which was performed in an adult Sunday school class at Myers Park Presbyterian Church in 2015).

When Katherine, Robert’s and Marlis’ daughter, was entering college in 1964, a third child entered the Welsh household, George, named for Robert’s father and who aided Robert in publishing three books in his last 18 months of life.

 In addition to Katherine of Rock Hill, SC, and George (Jennifer) of Baton Rouge, LA, Mr. Welsh leaves behind a grandson, James Allen (Jace) Crockett (Carrie) of Lynchburg, VA; grandchildren, Ryan Welsh, Nathan Welsh, Elly Welsh, and Max Welsh of Baton Rouge; and one great-grandchild, Elizabeth Crockett of Lynchburg.

A funeral service will be held at 1 pm on Saturday, January 18, at Myers Park Presbyterian Church.  Memorials may be made to Myers Park Presbyterian Church, 2501 Oxford Place, Charlotte, NC 28207, and Levine & Dickinson Hospice House at Southminster through VIA Partners, P. O. Box 470408, Charlotte, NC 28247.

Walter Proctor Walker of Greenwood Memory Care in Marietta, GA, and formerly of Sandy Springs, was called home on November 13, 2024.

He was born in Lakeland, FL to the late Virginia Proctor Walker and John Pearson Walker. He grew up on a farm in Collierville, TN and attended the Webb School in Bell Buckle, TN. Following in the footsteps of his two brothers, he graduated with a degree in physics from Davidson College. He met Mary Frances Harney on a blind date in Murfreesboro, TN. They both were born on April 11, 1928. They were married in 1948 and were only separated by death, some 74 years later. The family moved to Knoxville where their first son was born, and where Walter attained a master’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Tennessee. Their second son was born in Charlottesville, VA where Walter earned a doctorate in electrical engineering and nuclear physics at the University of Virginia.

The family moved to Sandy Springs in 1960 as Walter managed Lockheed’s nuclear facility in Dawsonville. That facility included the only unshielded nuclear reactor in the United States (if not the world), and its existence and operation were closely guarded. Walter left Lockheed in 1969 to join the Audichron Company as senior vice president. Walter became the CEO of the company and also was a director of the John and Mary Franklin Foundation of Atlanta.

Walter was humble regarding his success and chose to drive a barebones VW Rabbit. He loved to work with his hands and rarely found a job too dirty or too tough to tackle personally. Even at 90, he still worked on his car and mowed his own lawn. He encouraged hard work and education and taught various handyman skills to any family members who were interested. He was a hands-on father, uncle and grandfather. He helped with Boy Scout projects, attended many ballgames and was always available to help with home and auto repairs.

Walter and his wife were active members of Mount Vernon Presbyterian Church in Sandy Springs for more than 60 years. He served as a deacon and an elder and used his telecommunication and computer skills in service to the church and to the Mount Vernon School. He and his wife had many lifelong friends and frequently found ways to help others in need.

Walter was an accomplished golfer. He never had a hole in one, but shot an 83 when he was 85 years old. He played an occasional round of golf with grandsons until his early 90’s. He took up tennis later in life, only giving it up at the age of 93 to attend to his wife’s failing health. He enjoyed many activities with family, including weekend trips to Lake Lanier and annual family ski vacations in Colorado and Utah. He and his wife had a lifelong love of dogs (particularly Boston Terriers) and passed that affection on to their children and grandchildren,

Walter was preceded in death by his parents, his two brothers and their wives, his own wife and his younger son, Mark Harney Walker. He is survived by his older son, Walter P. Walker Jr. (Nancy) of Marietta; his daughter-in-law, Joy Walker Hastings (John) of Atlanta; his grandchildren, David Harney Walker of Marietta, Melissa Walker Simmons (Christopher) of Vestavia Hills, AL; Michael P. Walker (Shelly) of Marietta; Laura Walker Prospero (James) of Atlanta; seven great grandchildren: Walker, Paxton, Finley, Myles, Josie, AJ and Amelia; nephew John Earl Harney (Debbie), niece Susan Harney, great nephew, Justin Harney (Rebekah), great niece, Jaclyn Harney Williams (Chad) of Murfreesboro, TN.

A private graveside service will be held in Arlington Cemetery in Sandy Springs. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any donations be made to the Mount Vernon Presbyterian Church in Sandy Springs.

David Caldwell Young of Midland, MI, passed away peacefully on Saturday, November 2, 2024 after surpassing his goal of living to the age of 100. David was born in Memphis, Tennessee on June 18th, 1924, to Reverend David Caldwell Young Sr. and his wife Sara. David graduated from Davidson College and then earned a Ph.D. in organic chemistry at the University of Florida. After moving to Midland in 1950, he married Laura Fries in 1955. They celebrated their 69th wedding anniversary this year.

David worked in organic chemistry research at the Dow Chemical Company; he retired in 1986 after a successful scientific career. While working, he was also very active in both the local section and the national organization of the American Chemical Society (ACS). He served two terms as a member of the national ACS board of directors.

David believed in giving back to the community. He volunteered for the AARP IRS Tax Aide program for 30 years. He was a driver for Meals on Wheels for many years and was active in the Midland First United Methodist Church. As an avid birder and nature lover, David was a member and officer of the Midland Nature Club, served on the board of directors for the Chippewa Nature Center, and the board of directors of the Michigan Audubon Society.
As the son and grandson of ministers, David was expected to join the ministry. He instead chose to go into science, moved from the deep south to Michigan, and split his full name between his two sons to avoid burdening either of them with “David Caldwell Young III”. While he worked in science, in many ways he ministered to the people around him. David was a believer in social progress; that belief only strengthened throughout his life. He is remembered as an advocate for tolerance, inclusivity, and equality for all. His advocacy continued even past his 100th birthday.

David was a kind and gentle soul who charmed everyone he met, and everyone he knew will miss him.

David is survived by wife Laura F. Young of Midland, MI, daughter Patricia Young (Ronald Wellman) of Midland, son Thomas Young (Linda Young) of Lake Jackson, TX, and son Bruce Young of Oakland, CA. He is also survived by grandchildren Laurel Wellman (Andreas Oeste), Heather Wellman, Eleanor Young, Peter Young, Johnna St. Clair, Andrew Wellman (Jennifer Ingersoll) Jeremy Wellman, Aric Wellman (Leslie Stasko).

A celebration of life will be held at 11:00am on Wednesday, November 6, 2024 in the chapel at the First United Methodist Church in Midland, MI with visitation in the parlor at 10:00am. The Reverend Pamela Buchholz will officiate.

All of us at Ware Smith Woolever are honored the Young family has entrusted us with the care of their loved one.