FEBRUARY 24 – Mabel Grace Cunningham Welch Hill, “Yie,” died on Monday, February 23, 2009 at The Woodland Retirement Community following complications from a stroke she suffered in October.

Yie Hill was born October 20, 1922, to the late Katharine Longsworth and Edward Newton Cunningham in Pamplin. She was preceded in death by a brother, Walter Newton Cunningham, and husbands, Clarence Johnson Welch and Richard Elias Hill.

She was a graduate of Darlington Heights High School, and attended Madison College in Harrisonburg, and the Smithfield-Massie Business College in Richmond. She served as secretary to the USO/YMCA director in Blackstone, prior to joining the U.S. Navy in 1943, where she was a cryptography specialist.

She married U.S. Air Force Capt. Johnny Welch, on November 9, 1944. The couple had three children, Wendy Sue, Katharine Ann and Clifton Reese. Johnny Welch died suddenly in 1970 while serving in Germany, and Yie returned to Pamplin. She was active in the Pamplin community and served on the Pamplin City Council .

On April 12, 1975 she married Dick Hill, a widower, who had four children, Leslie, Jackie, Mary Beth and David. The couple retired to Farmville in 1985 and were active in the Farmville Presbyterian Church and the community. Richard died in 1997 at The Woodlands. Yie continued her volunteer work at Southside Hospital and with Meals on Wheels.

She is survived by her children, Wendy Welch Richardson, Katharine Welch Ham, and Clifton Reece Welch; step-children, Leslie Hill Shelton, Jackie Hill Powelson, Mary Beth Hill Atwell, and David H. Hill and six grandchildren, seven step-grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, February 28, at 2 p.m. at the Farmville Presbyterian Church. Family will receive friends following the service in the church fellowship hall.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, the Farmville Presbyterian Church or a charity of your choice.

Puckett Funeral Home Farmville, is in charge of arrangements.