Kenneth Poe Funeral Services

August 14, 2026

Penny Howard Welling, age 80, of Charlotte, North Carolina, died peacefully on August 14, 2026. Born on October 12, 1945, in Durham, NC, she was the only child of Dorothy Bivens Howard and Benjamin Green Howard. She attended Durham schools graduating from Durham High School.  As a child, Penny developed her love of reading and unending curiosity that would remain a guiding light throughout her life.

Penny continued her education at Duke University graduating with a degree in English and received a Master of Arts in teaching from UNC Chapel Hill.

She then moved to Charlotte and married Alfred Franklin Welling, Junior in 1968. Set up on a blind date by college friends, we knew how much our father loved our mom because as a devoted Tar Heel, he married her on a very hot August Saturday in the Duke Chapel when the Chapel did not yet have air conditioning.  

Penny taught in high school English and Spanish in Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools for several years until the birth of her daughters. While raising her girls, Penny enjoyed volunteering in the community where she was a member of the Charlotte Junior League and the Charlotte League Symphony Women's Association, a docent at the Hezekiah Alexander House and was President of Act One, the Children's Theater Auxiliary, as well as President of the Alexander Graham Junior High PTA. She was a member of Sharon United Methodist Church in Charlotte.

When her daughters were both in college, Penny decided she was ready to return to school as well. After obtaining a Master of Library and Information Science from the University of South Carolina, she served as director of the Stanly County Public Library for 14 years. Penny’s commitment to her community continued while living in Albemarle. During this time, she was a member of the Albemarle Rotary Club where she served as president and became a Paul Harris fellow. She also served on the boards of the Stanly County Partnership for Children, including Board Chair, and the Albemarle Downtown Development Corporation. She was a member of Central United Methodist Church in Albemarle and the Mecklenburg Chapter of DAR.

In 2009, Penny retired and returned to Charlotte to begin a new role as grandmother to grandsons, Wilson and Bob. While back in Charlotte, she became an active member of Myers Park Covenant (formerly Baptist) Church. In addition to spending time with her family, Penny cherished fun and fellowship with friends through her many activities including bridge and book clubs. Her beauty, humor, and wisdom touched many lives, opening eyes and hearts in countless ways.

She is preceded in death by husband Alfred F. Welling, Jr. and her parents. She is survived by daughters Sarah Welling and Lin Welling Leslie and her husband Gary Leslie, grandsons Wilson Leslie and Bob Leslie, and many wonderful cousins.

The family would like to thank Dr. Lane Hellner and Penny’s medical care teams at Atrium Health Levine Cancer Institute and Atrium Health Hospice & Palliative Care Union for their loving care and support during Penny’s illness.

To celebrate Penny’s life, the family will receive friends in Heaton Hall at Myers Park Covenant Church,1900 Queens Road in Charlotte, on Saturday August 22, 2026 at 11:00 AM.  In lieu of flowers, please make memorials to Myers Park Covenant Church.

May her memory be eternal.

Arrangements are in the care of Kenneth W. Poe Funeral & Cremation Service, 1321 Berkeley Ave., Charlotte, NC 28204; (704) 641-7606. Online condolences may be shared at www.kennethpoeservices.com.