Billy Welch

CHARLESTON - Billy Eugene Welch, 76, died at 3 a.m. Jan. 31, 2008, at the St. John's Mercy Heart Center in St. Louis.

Born Sept. 17, 1931, at Decaturville, Tenn., to the late Floyd and Druie Butler Welch, he moved to Charleston in 1966. He had lived a number of years in St. Louis where he was employed as a city driver with Smith Transfer Freight Lines of St. Louis until retiring in 1985. He was a member of the Elm Street Baptist Church in Charleston.

On May 31, 1950, at Piggott, Ark., he married Gracie Geraldine Fields, who preceded him in death on June 13, 2005.

One brother, James Welch, also preceded him in death.

Survivors include: one son and daughter-in-law, Terry and Linda Welch of St. Peters; one brother, Floyd Welch Jr. of the state of Arizona; three sisters, Jessie Johnson and Mary Magee of Sikeston and Peggy Riley of Wyatt; and three grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Visitation is from 5-8 p.m. Sunday at McMikle Funeral Home in Charleston, where services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Monday. Jon Archie, pastor of Elm Street Baptist Church in Charleston, will officiate. His grandson, Michael Smith, will assist.

Burial will follow in the IOOF Cemetery near Charleston.