Ellen Rebecca Switzer Wellman Delehanty completed her time on Earth May 3, 2014.
She was born March 18, 1922 in Gastonia, N.C. to Ellen Rebecca Brandt of Fayetteville, N.C. and Edward Tiffin Switzer of Stanton, Va.
She was predeceased by her brother, Charles Crawford Switzer and sister, Mary Brandt Switzer.​
When she was two, her family moved to Shelby, N.C., where she spent her early childhood.
After attending Peace College in Raleigh, Ellen graduated in 1944 from Pratt Institute in New York with a degree in Industrial Design.
While there, the renowned ceramic artist Eva Zeisel was her instructor and mentor, the greatest influence in her artistic career, which spanned over 70 years.
Ellen married Herbert Chase Wellman in 1945 and moved to Long Beach, Calif. receiving her BA in Arts Educatin, and a teaching certificate from Cal State University, Long Beach, Calif.
The Wellmans were married for 35 years raising four daughters who survive them: Ellen Goodman of Lake Lanier, Landrum, S.C.; Marilyn Doheny, Tryon, N.C.; Robin Fisher, Charleston, S.C. and Marta Grecny (Stephen), Brea, Calif.
She also has two deceased granddaughters and is survived by nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
In l978 at the beginning of her second, 30-year marriage to Edward Delehanty,  Ellen returned home to Lake Lanier, Landrum, S.C., which she called “God’s Country.”
Together they raised Edward’s son Kevin; she remained close to both his wife, Cory, and their children.
She took watercolor classes from Tryon artist Lou Ingerson.
After a few interruptions in her art endeavors, Ellen returned to painting under the tutelage of Bill Ryan and Dale McEntire at Isothermal Community College.
Her latest works, a series of 12 paintings called “For the Love of Lake Lanier” is on display at St. Luke’s Hospital in Columbus, N.C.
Regardless of life’s set- backs, Ellen maintained a zest for living and was thankful for all that God had given her.
If you ever dropped in on her at the lake, you would have likely found her baking, sewing, gardening, kayaking or watching the birds at her numerous feeders.
The family will receive friends from 10:30 – 11:15 a.m. Thursday, May 8 just prior to the memorial service in the McFarland Funeral Chapel.
A memorial service for Ellen will be held at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, May 8, 2014 in the McFarland Funeral Chapel with a reception following at the Delehanty residence, 2304 West Lakeshore Drive, Landrum, S.C.
The family requests memorials  be made to: Tryon Painters and Sculptors, 26 Maple St. Tryon, NC 28782; Tryon Arts and Crafts, 373 Harmon Field Rd. Tryon, NC 28782; or to Tryon Fine Arts Center, 34 Melrose Ave. Tryon, NC 28782.
An online guest register is available at www.mcfarlandfuneralchapel.com.
McFarland Funeral Chapel