Paul Welborn Sr.

MOUNTAIN CITY, Tenn. — Paul E. Welborn Sr., 83, passed away Monday, Dec. 21, 2015. He resided in Mountain City, with his loving wife and best friend of 62 years, Mrs. Anne Lott Welborn. Mr. Welborn was born and raised in Wilkes County. He excelled in football and attended Appalachian State Teacher's College, where he played as a lineman on their football team for all four years. Mr. Welborn served two years in the United States Marine Corp and following discharge, re-enlisted for two more years in the U.S. Army. He received an educational doctoral degree from the University of Tennessee. In Johnson County, he served as principal of Johnson County High School for 10 years. He was well-respected and served as a mentor to his students, as well as teachers. Prior to that he was a teacher and coach at West Wilkes High School; principal at Moravian Falls Elementary School; superintendent of schools in Yadkin County; and assistant superintendent of schools in Georgetown, South Carolina. After retiring from Johnson County Schools, he served as headmaster and established Bridges Charter School, one of the first charter school in North Carolina. Mr. Welborn dedicated over 60 years of public education service. He was also a loyal Shriner at the Mount Pleasant Lodge #578. Mr. Welborn was preceded in death by his parents, Paul Dixon Welborn and Etolia Foster Welborn; and brother, Bob Welborn. He is survived by his wife, Anne Lott Welborn; his son, Paul Jr., and wife Joy; his son, Andrew Dixon and wife Peggy, all of Mountain City; two grandchildren, Andrew Paul Welborn of Port Orange, Florida, Kathryn Anne Welborn Henderson of Johnson City, Tennessee; one great-grandchild, Miles Clark Henderson also of Johnson City; brother, Dickie Welborn of Purlear, North Carolina; sister, Mary Nell Welborn Maloney of Lumberton, North Carolina. Funeral service for Mr. Welborn will be held 1 o'clock Saturday, Dec. 26, 2015, at Miller Funeral Chapel with the Rev. Sherrill Wellborn, Earl Eller and Charles Wooten officiating. Burial with military honors by Veterans of Foreign Wars Honor Guard Post 1142 will be at a later date. The family will receive friends at Miller Funeral Service from 11 until 1 o'clock on Saturday, prior to the service. Flowers will be accepted, or memorials may be made to Mt. Zion Baptist Church, 5560 Mt. Zion Road, Ferguson, NC 28624. Miller Funeral Service in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, is in charge of the arrangements. Online condolences may be made to www.millerfuneralservice.com. Pallbearers will be Andrew Welborn, Jason Maloney, Derek Welborn, Darren Welborn, Dwight Phillips, Andrew Henderson. Honorary pallbearers will be Bill Welborn and Tom Whittington.