Dorothy Devlin Welch

Dorothy Devlin Welch passed away on July 6,2021 in the comfort of her longtime Wyndmoor home. Predeceased by her husband Edward J. Sr., at her side were her were her devoted daughters Emilie Foyle, Deborah Harvey and son Edward. Her loving presence will be sorely missed by her daughters’ husbands Jack Foyle and Edward Harvey, granddaughters Elizabeth Buchmann, Kathleen Keshgegian, Jacqueline Keller and Julia Campos, as well as eight great grandchildren Reared in Overbrook, the daughter of Dr. Raymond A. Devlin and Emilie C. McFillin. Dr. Devlin was a renowned large animal Veterinarian trained at Penn, once serving as the City’s Chief Health inspector and board member of the 1926 Sesqi-Centennial Exhibition. Devlin served as a cavalry officer during WWI and was chosen to be introduced to King George V. Dorothy was early on driven to school by chauffer, but the depression ended that with the family still able to retain the Cape May Victorian home as well as Overbrook. Dorothy graduated from West Catholic Girls High School in 1945 and was soon trained as a librarian. She worked for years for the Free Library of Philadelphia, serving with the book mobile in an era where daily visits to mental institutions, hospitals and prisons introduced Dorothy to conditions not unlike those made notorious in modern-day movies. While attending St. Josephs University she met and in 1952 would marry Edward J. Welch of Holyoke Massachusetts. Their marriage would last 43 years until the death of Edward Sr. in 1995. A voracious reader, Dorothy would read 4 or 5 books a week and became an expert in true crime in America. From Borden to Bundy, she would unflinchingly recount the gory details. She served her community in a litany of ways. Dorothy served as lead librarian at Seven Dolors School and led “Great Book” discussions of the classics, sung in the choir for decades, and was a leader of girl scout and cub scout troops. She volunteered her time at little league baseball, Springfield Township Library, Wyndmoor Elementary Library, Wyndmoor Hose Company Ladies Auxiliary, Chestnut Hill Hospital, St. Joseph’s Villa, and OMC recess lady, to name a few. For nearly twenty years she was employed as a genealogist researching lineage for various societies such as the Magna Carta Dames. Dorothy devoted her life to others and her example is cherished by all who knew her. Friends may call at St. Genevieve Church, 1225 Bethlehem Pk, Flourtown PA 19031, Wednesday July 14 at 9AM. Funeral Mass 10AM. Interment at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the ASPCA at www.aspca.org.