Spartanburg High School Alumni

12/30/2025

William K. Welge "Bill" died on December 26, 2025, after 78 years of enthusiastic living.

Born to Albert Case and Sara Johnson Welge in Randolph County, Indiana, on April 27, 1947, Bill grew up on his parent’s farm in Lynn, Indiana with his siblings and extended family, doing chores, having many adventures, and being active at Spartanburg and Randolph Southern High School.

Bill attended Ball State University, joined the Army National Guard in 1965, and worked at Westinghouse/ABB where he made many friends when not reading books in the crane bay. Bill also turned a hobby he enjoyed into a thriving business, becoming a professional wallpaper installer for many years in Muncie and Lafayette.

Bill was a passionate and committed athlete his entire life, enjoying bicycling, running, skydiving, rollerblading, white water rafting, rock climbing, and hiking among many sports. In his 70’s he was regularly deadlifting 300 lbs., until Parkinson’s Disease caused him to reduce the weights to 180 lbs. He was known for living ahead of the curve, owning new wave cars and exercise equipment before they were widely known. Indifferent to judgement, and full of good humor, the naysayers only strengthened his belief that he was the prophet of good health and fuel economy.

Bill is survived by his partner and wife of 20 years, Kathryn Willowoode whom he loved dearly and who was his most dedicated advocate in the last few years of his life; daughters Jennifer Bruce (Jason Bruce), Indianapolis, and Lori Fulk (Gregory Fulk) Zionsville, who will miss his laugh and Dad “isms” for the rest of their lives; a step-daughter, Elaine Wolf (Chris Wolf); granddaughters Avery Bruce, Sara and Kelly Fulk, step-grandchildren Luna, Caeden, and Elijah Wolf, his sister Susie Laurent who adored her big brother Bill, and sister-in-law Marcella Welge. Bill is also survived by nieces and nephews he loved dearly, and former wife Sally Dawson (Ray Dawson), who became a true friend.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, brother Don Paul Welge, brother Fred J. Welge, sister-in-law Mary Welge; and his nephew Eric Welge.

In lieu of donations, Bill asks that you care for the environment by economizing your fuel consumption, enjoy your health and vitality, always have time to help a neighbor, and spend a day reading a book that enhances your understanding of the universe.

08/30/2025

Spartanburg School Memorial Project: Our original project estimated cost did not include the actual cost for cement work and and railing for the steps. Our total estimated cost is now at $4200. We have had good response and have collected $2390 in addition to the balance in our Alumni account. At this point we will need $1200 more to complete the project. Some have offered to give more if we need it. It looks very promising to fully fund this project and have something nice in front of the Spartanburg School property.

08/21/2025

Checks for the Spartanburg Monument should be made out to Spartanburg Alumni Association. Thanks again for your support.

08/21/2025

Monument for the Spartanburg School Building: An order has been placed with Abbottsville Monuments for a black granite stone measuring 46" H by 54" W. The picture the school building and grounds (as seen on this page) will be engraved in the stone. There will be a concrete pad poured near the steps by the road, to support the stone. The engraving/etching will appear white in color. The cost for this project is estimated to be $2800. We have funds left over from the alumni association and we have received donations from the community, but we are a little short to fully commit to the project. We hope to have this project completed before the 2026 Alumni Banquet. If you would care to support this project, send money to:
Sharon Girton, Treasurer
2303 East 700 South
Lynn, IN 47355-9369
Thanks for your support, Duane Macy

04/30/2025

Bricks are gone, they were able to bury them all, at least they will stay on the property forever

04/30/2025

Here is the huge cement slab that was removed on the North side of the gym, you can read the names pretty good, can’t see the date but it was 1922

04/26/2025

The school is almost gone but we still have a lot of the good memories to hold on to. How many memories/ thoughts can you recall from our old school? Feel free to list them here. We will all enjoy the trip down memory lane!!!

04/21/2025

Another video of the school building coming down.

04/21/2025

Saved to last of demolition! Thanks Richard.

04/21/2025

The building is being demolished and the grounds are being cleared. This process began last Saturday. Plans are to try to salvage the cornerstone and a couple of other chunks with historic information. Plans are in the works for a monument at some point in the future. They found a piece of cement 4’x6’on north side of gym outside wall that has trustees board members & superintendent on it! I never seen it before if u we’re walking out to track or baseball on north side we should have seen it 🤷‍♀️

02/02/2025

Very interesting from Frank Roth.

Good afternoon, I recently stumbled across your page while researching the Spartanburg High School. I put together a video about the high school and just wanted to share it with the page and everyone. https://youtu.be/6gu-RVcELaU?si=1d7UL8IzCye0HOao Hope all is swell, - Frank D. Roth

Once celebrated as the finest rural school, the Spartanburg high school is now a burned-out shell of its former glory. So, what went wrong? Join us as we div...

02/02/2025

John Longnecker this along recently and thought that us Spartanburg folk would find it interesting.

Explore the rich educational heritage of Greensfork Township, Randolph County, Indiana, with this detailed 1945 manuscript. From the first school held in a cabin near Arba Cemetery in 1815 to the consolidation of schools, this book chronicles the evolution of local education. It features histories o...