Linnea P. (Bloom) Welsh

RED LION - Linnea Patricia Welsh died on August 20, 2009 at her home in Red Lion, PA. Born in Germantown, PA, she was the daughter of Walter M. Bloom, Sr. and Vivian Oberg Bloom. She graduated from Millersville University with a BS in Elementary Education and from Clarion University with an MS in Library Science. From 1974 to 1984 Lin worked in the Children's Room of the Lancaster County Library, reading stories, putting on puppet shows and producing videos to interest children in the best of children's literature. In 1984 she became Elementary Librarian for the Lampeter-Strasburg School District, a position she held for 25 years. Lin was a creative and caring teacher who instilled in her students a love of books and reading. She was a founding member of the Children's Literature Council of PA. A life-long liberal, she was a fervent supporter of both human and animal rights. She had a deep appreciation for music, theater, film, and art. She enjoyed her students, the beach, reading, politics, literature and travel. Lin had an amazing way of touching peoples' lives and opening new doors for them. She was a person of wit and intellect and heart. She is survived by her husband of 25 years, Chip Welsh of Red Lion; siblings Diane Porter (John), Great Falls, MD; Douglas Bloom (Donna), Key Colony Beach, FL; Elizabeth Bloom (Bernadette Savoie), Vancouver, Canada; half-brothers Walter M. Bloom, Warminster, PA and John Bloom (Kelly), New Rochelle, NY; a step-mother Eileen Bloom, Warminster, PA; and a step-brother Alfred Pisacano (Donna), South Hampton, PA. In addition, she will be missed by close family friends Philip Crnkovich and JoAnne Foss, both of Lancaster. Her many friends are invited to visit with the family at a memorial gathering at Pheasant Run Farm, 200 Marticville Rd. Lancaster PA on Wednesday August 26 between 4 pm and 7 pm. Life Tributes by Olewiler and Heffner Funeral Chapel and Crematory, Inc., 35 Gotham Place, Red Lion, is in charge of arrangements. A memorial fund has been set up in Lin's honor and may be made to Heifer International, www.heifer.org/myregistry/linwelsh and FINCA International, 1101 Fourteenth St, NW, Eleventh Floor, Washington, D.C. 20005.