Heaven's gates opened and welcomed home a precious Mother, Mimi, sister, aunt and friend just before midnight on March 14, 2023.  Weltha Joyce Gibbs (Swope) Atkins, age 90, of Thorndale, went peacefully to be with her Lord and Savior, surrounded by her loving family. Weltha was born on February 3, 1933, the fifth of six children born to Ray "Frosty" Gibbs and Bernice Newman Gibbs.  Having been given an unusual first name and always being asked to spell it, she'd say, "It's like WEALTHY. Just drop the Y and move the A to the end".  She was raised on the family farm near Florence, Texas during the Great Depression.  She often said, "We didn't have a lot of 'stuff', but we had so much fun just being together". Weltha attended Gravel Hill School as a young child, moving to the Florence schools at the age of 7, where she graduated in 1950.  She was a homecoming queen and a killer on the volleyball court!  She loved dancing and embarrassing her teenage daughters by jitterbugging with her sisters in public!  Weltha maintained such a youthful appearance.  Strangers often could not believe her actual age, and to her delight (and her daughters' dismay), she was often mistaken for the "fourth sister" on her many outings with her girls.

In 1952, Weltha married Abe Lee Swope, Jr. and, shortly after, they moved to Bloomington, Texas.  Their 3 daughters were born in Victoria, and Weltha cherished those years of being a homemaker and the best mother to her girls. She made many lifelong friendships during those years and cherished her "South Texas" friends until her death.  She loved and was loved in return by the Sklar, the Ohrt, the Stoebner, the Rister, the Brown, the Cooke and the Hanselka families, along with many others too numerous to name.

In 1969, the family returned to Weltha's hometown of Florence, where she was overjoyed to live closer to her parents, siblings and their children.  She was the face and voice of the Centex Butane office in Florence for 23 years, where she enjoyed serving and reconnecting with her many childhood friends and making new friends.  She will be remembered as always having a beautiful and welcoming smile and leading the best team with Felix Ramirez and Buddy Guthrie during their years of working together.  Upon her retirement, Weltha continued to enjoy yard work, her vegetable garden and her passion for fishing. She was an amazing cook and will be remembered for her famous buttermilk pie, homemade mustang grape jelly and her holiday bourbon balls.  She was even known for making homemade grape wine to share with her family. Weltha was an excellent seamstress. She also enjoyed crochet and many crocheted pieces are treasured by her family members today.  She began oil painting in her later years, and her paintings hang proudly in her family's homes as precious mementos of her talent. Weltha was baptized into her faith and remained a faithful member of the Youngsport Church of Christ near Killeen, Texas until her passing.  After relocating to Coupland, she attended services at the Elgin Church of Christ.

In 1997, Weltha married Bobby Joe Atkins, Sr. They shared 16 years together on Bobby's family ranch near Florence, where they enjoyed spending time with their blended family. Following Bobby's death, Weltha relocated to the home of her daughter and son-in-law in Coupland, Texas. She was blessed to share Tanya's new home near Thorndale for two months prior to her passing. She loved to watch the Hereford cattle grazing outside her windows, watching for her special cardinal and the many robins that appeared on her birdfeeder each day.

Weltha's grandchildren were the joy of her life. She took much pride in their accomplishments and welcomed their spouses into her family and her heart. They blessed her with 10 beautiful great-grandchildren who adored their Mimi.

Weltha was preceded in death by her parents; her husband and father of her girls, Abe Swope, Jr.; her husband, Bobby Atkins, Sr.; son-in-law, Steven Suchomel; two brothers, Floyd Gibbs (Catherine) and Gayle Gibbs; two sisters, Freda Wilson and Juanice "Poochie" Nord (Bud); brother in law, Gene Ray and sister-in-law, Kay Swope Williams; two nieces and one nephew.

Left to mourn her passing are her daughters, Tanya Suchomel, Jackie (Gary) Oslick, all of Thorndale, and Mary Jane Swope of Florence.  Her grandchildren, Tony (Kristi) Suchomel, Lance (Lori) Suchomel, Matthew (Hollie) Suchomel, Wesley (Ashlee) Suchomel, Shannon (Gregg) Cheshier and Tara Oslick; great-grandchildren Luke, Charlie, Graceann, Elizabeth, Addison, Scarlett, Karter, Carson, Weston and Ashlynn; her beloved sister, Nelda Ray; sister-in-law, Delores Gibbs Faulkner; stepson, Bobby Atkins, Jr. (Michele); brother-in-law, Max Atkins (Jann); many nieces and nephews.

Serving as pallbearers are her grandchildren and great-grandsons. Honorary pallbearers are Tom Ed Atkinson, Lanny Booth, Tommy Kanetzky, Steven Marley, David Ramirez, Dr. Edward Rister, Wayne Sherry, Charles Sklar, Sr., and Don Strawn.

The family would like to express their sincere appreciation to Baylor Scott and White Hospice for their loving and compassionate care of Weltha during her final weeks. She loved all her caregivers, and they showed her genuine and heartfelt love in return.

To honor Weltha's life and memory, contributions may be made to the Youngsport Church of Christ, Elgin Church of Christ, the Live Oak Cemetery Association near Killeen or the charity of one's choice.

A visitation will take place Tuesday, March 21st at Ramsey Funeral Home from 6 to 8pm. Funeral services will be located at Youngsport Church of Christ in Killeen, Texas the following day Wednesday, March 22nd at 11am with a graveside service afterwards at Live Oak Cemetery, Killeen, Texas.

Youngsport Church of Christ

201 Youngsport Loop

Killeen, Texas 76542

Live Oak Cemetery

1934 Live Oak Cemetery Road

Killeen, Texas 76542