Max Oniel Welborn

Yadkinville Max Oniel Welborn, Sr., 84, passed away peacefully on Sunday, October 11, 2015 at Select Specialty Hospital in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He was born on August 18, 1931 in High Point General Hospital in High Point, North Carolina, to Joe David and Kezzie Evelyn Lohr Welborn. Max grew up in Yadkinville, North Carolina. He graduated from Yadkinville High School in Yadkinville, North Carolina in 1948. After high school Max attended Guilford College in Greensboro, North Carolina where he received a BA degree on June 2, 1952. He was the fourth consecutive generation to attend Guilford College. Max was married to Peggy Lee Taylor Welborn on July 20, 1955; they were married 52 years. Max worked as an automobile dealer, first with his father at Pioneer Chevrolet Company and then for himself at Max Welborn Automobiles for more than 60 years. He enjoyed watching sports at Yadkinville High School, Forbush High School, Wake Forest University and Guilford College: and playing rook with his friends in the community. Max was also actively involved in local and state politics for many years and was a dedicated member of the First Baptist Church in Yadkinville, North Carolina where he served as a deacon, church moderator, and Sunday school teacher. He was named "Layman of the Year" on February 4, 1990 by the First Baptist Church of Yadkinville. Max was first appointed to the North Carolina Insurance Advisory Board by Governor Luther G. Hodges on July 10, 1956 and was sworn in office by Lon H. West on July 18, 1956. He was subsequently appointed to the same position by Governor J. Terry Sanford on October 2, 1963 and Governor Dan K. Moore on November 7, 1967. Max was a member of the Guilford College Athletic Hall of Fame. He was also the founder of the Catherine Casstevens Critical Care Facility at Chapel Hill. Max is survived by his three children, Max Oniel Welborn Jr. and his wife Sheila their sons Max III, Julian and Loughan; Lark Norena Welborn Williams and her husband Gary and her daughter Christina and her husband Josh Foster; and Charlie Lee Welborn and his wife Debra and their children Matthew and his wife Logann, Hannah, Micah and Caleb; and three great-grandchildren Spencer Foster, Cooper Foster and Kathryn Foster; foster son, Hugh Albert Conaway; sisters-in-law, Iva Taylor, Betty Ann Killian, Evelyn Brann, and Rosemary Miller and husband Larry; his many nieces and nephews; a very special friend, Virginia Childress; and the rest of his family and friends. In addition to his parents, Max was preceded in death by his wife, Peggy Lee Taylor Welborn; his sister, Joy Conway; brother, Joe David Welborn, Jr.; and his dearly beloved grand-daughter, Catherine. The family wishes to thank all of those who cared for Max during his last illness and particularly the attention given to his care by Lee Zachary and Dr. David Jackson, MD and Dr. Emily Mann, MD of Wake Forest University Family Medicine. A funeral service will be held honoring Max on Wednesday, October 14, 2015 at 11:00 AM at Gentry Family Funeral Service, 5108 US Highway 601, Yadkinville, North Carolina, 27055 with Reverend Richard Eskew, Reverend John Brown, and Reverend Ken Boaz officiating. Burial will follow at Harmony Grove Friends Meeting cemetery. The family will receive friends Tuesday evening from 6:00 to 8:00PM at Gentry Funeral Service. Memorial contributions may be made in lieu of flowers to the Max Welborn Family Scholarship Fund at Guilford College, 5800 West Friendly Avenue, Greensboro, North Carolina, 27410. The Gentry Family Funeral Service is caring for the arrangements.