Irene Welborn Herrington

Irene Welborn Herrington of Owensboro passed away Saturday, March 23, 2019 at her home. She was born in Echols, Kentucky on April 19, 1928 to the late Robert D. and Mary Lois Schroader. After moving to Owensboro, she worked at General Electric for 10 years as a group leader. Irene founded Welborn Floral in 1958 with the support of her husband Carlous E. Welborn and her son Dickie Knight, an enterprise which continues to be a landmark in the floral industry. Irene was a community leader and was exceptionally generous to several organizations. Her community involvements included Eastern Star, the Business and Professional Women's Club, the Owensboro Chamber Commerce which recognized her as Woman of the Year, The Junior League of Owensboro Charity Ball, the Civitan Club, the Opportunity Center, the Owensboro Fine Arts Museum, and the Kentucky Wesleyan College All-America Club. She was a member of First Baptist Church. Irene was a leader in the florist industry, serving as president of Teleflora for Kentucky into whose Hall of Fame she was inducted, and as president of the Southern Retail Florist Association of Kentucky. Irene was instrumental in Owensboro's first Christmas Open House. She was known for her constant desire to learn and to innovate new methods of design through travel and education. Through her talent and commitment, she deeply appreciated the role she was privileged to play with countless area families as they marked life transitions, including births, birthday, weddings, and the loss of a loved one. She was also preceded death by her husbands Carlos B. Knight, Carlous E. Welborn and O. C. Herrington, her brothers Mitchell Schroader and Carl Schroader, and a special niece Kim Slaughter.
Irene's family always came first. She is survived by her son, Carlos (Dick) Knight; her granddaughters Leigh Erickson and Sally Barker; her great-grandchildren, Rachel Rahill, Zoe Barker and Garrison Barker; her sisters June Beverly Webster (Denzel), Wanda Doris Smith, Emma Jane Miller, Mary Knight and Lillian Lee Hamilton; her brothers Sherman Ray Schroader and Willard Dee Schroader. Her family would like to thank the wonderful caregivers for the love and care shown to Irene during the past years.

The funeral service for Irene Welborn Herrington will be 10:00 a.m. Wednesday at Glenn Funeral Home and Crematory, where visitation will be from 4:00 until 8:00 p.m. Tuesday and after 9:00 a.m. Wednesday. Entombment will be in Owensboro Memorial Gardens Mausoleum. Memories and messages of condolence for the family of Irene may be shared at www.glenncares.com.