Lydia Welstead Knowles

Lydia Welstead Knowles, age 97, passed away peacefully in Virginia Beach on August 3rd, 2025.

She was a wonderful and loving mom to her two sons, John and Mike. She was a woman of many talents, and throughout her life was a Sears's accountant, a farmer, and everything in between. Lydia and her beloved husband, Charles, even bought and ran a pine tree farm in their retirement. She poured herself fully into anything she did, whether it was her career, her home, or her loved ones.

Lydia is predeceased by husband Charles Elwood Knowles, her sister Ruby Todd and spouse O. A. Todd. Left to cherish her memory are her two sons, C. Michael Knowles (spouse Mary Ann), and John Kendy Knowles, Sr. ; grandchildren, Charles M. Knowles (spouse Jo Anne), Shelby Knowles, Rebekah Wendland (spouse David), John Kendy Knowles, Jr., Katherine Lynn Daniels (spouse Travis), Aaron Rousseau (spouse Lenora), Michelle Preston, and Alicia Gordon (spouse Jeffrey); : great grandchildren, Syierra Auker (spouse Kent), Josephine "Josie" Knowles, Ashley Childers (Spouse Steven), Kellan Knowles, Vaughn Knowles, Kody Daniels, Ayden Daniels, Kyla Daniels, Ashlynn Daniels, Gabrielle Rousseau, Nathan Rousseau, Abigail Rousseau, Lucas Gordon, and Avery Gordon; great-great grandchildren, Raelynn Jo Fournier and Nathan Childers.

She loved to travel all over the United States. Though she was not fond of flying, that didn't keep her in one place. Instead, she built a load-on camper and took to the open road, travel camping to every state in America, except Hawaii.

Lydia liked to be involved in the world around her, rather than let life pass her by. She was a Worthy Matron of the Order of the Eastern Star, Victory Chapter, in Portsmouth, VA. She was also a faithful and devoted member of Grassfield Baptist Church.

A service will be held at on Friday, August 15, 2025, at 2pm at Hollomon-Brown Funeral Home, Great Bridge Chapel. There will be a graveside service immediately following at Greenlawn Memorial Gardens. The family will be receiving friends at 1pm on Friday. Flowers and condolences may be offered at www.hollomon-brown.com.