Louis B. Welch

Louis B. Welch, 79, of Jefferson City, TN passed away on Friday, 30 July, 2010. Long-time member of First Baptist Church, Jefferson City, Tennessee, he served as deacon and teller. He was assistant plant manager with Berkline Corporation. A major, retired, from Air National Guard, Louis also served earlier in the U.S. Army. A member of JayCees and later named Lion of the Year, he was also a staunch fan of Carson Newman Eagles and UT Vols football and basketball. Born in the Macon County, North Carolina mountains, youngest of 15 siblings, to Wilburn and Alice Kimsey Welch, Louis traveled across the mountains to attend Carson Newman College, where he graduated with the class of ?53, and where he met his wife of 56 years, Margaret Anne(Peggy) Holsclaw. An avid gardener, fisherman, and hunter of Native American relics, mountain wildflowers, and local gemstones, he started and grew hundreds of plants and trees from seed or cutting to give away, along with fresh produce, homemade preserves, and canned goods. ?Pop? hauled children, gloves, shin guards, and cleats to countless ball practices and games where somehow his grandchildren?s performance invariably exceeded that of all other children playing on the field, no matter what the score. A storyteller as only the Wilburn Welch family could produce, Louis was always genuine, always humble, ever the unmovable shore from which family and friends could safely launch and to which we could always return for strength, warmth, nonjudgmental support and a sustaining selfless love. He is survived by his wife, sisters Muriel Welch and Jo Hedrick, brother Thomas Paul Welch, brother-in-law, William Holsclaw; children, Laura Shannon Welch Miller and Michael Shawn Welch; grandchildren, Brandon, Eli, Wyn, and Ian Miller; great grandchild Landon Ivan Louis Miller; and 19 nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, the family asks instead for donations to First Baptist Church?s Benevolence Committee. Celebration of Life will be 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, August 4, 2010 at First Baptist Church, Jefferson City, TN with Dr. Gene Wilder and Reverend Jim Dampier officiating. Family and friends will gather at 9:45 a.m. Thursday, August 5, 2010 at Jefferson Memorial Gardens for a 10:00 a.m. graveside interment service. The family will receive friends 5:30 until 7:00 p.m. prior to the service at the church. Arrangements by Farrar Funeral Home in Jefferson City, TN (865) 475-3892