Clarence A. Welch

Monday, July 27, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. at Waters Funeral Chapel, 500 S. Main Street in Vandalia, Missouri 63382.
Officiating will be: Rev. Bob Balwanz.
Music provided by: Alex Butte & Christy Carrier - vocalists; Shirley Forgy - pianist.
Interment will be in the Vandalia Cemetery.
Pallbearers: Michael Almblade, Bryan Challacombe, Darren Welch, Chad Helton, Matthew Almblade and Beau Morris. Honorary pallbearers: Bruce Welch, Larry Heaton and Gary Morris.

Clarence A. Welch passed away at 1:40 a.m. on Wednesday, July 22, 2009 at the Tri-County Care Center in Vandalia, Missouri. Clarence was a 1948 Vandalia High School graduate and later attended one year at Bradley University. During his high school years, he worked as a pattern cutter at the Ely Walker Garment Factory in Vandalia. After high school, he worked at Harbison Walker Refractories in Vandalia for nearly two years. In December 1949 he started working for the Caterpillar Company at the Peoria, Illinois plant and later at the Mt. Joy, Iowa plant. He worked for Caterpillar for nearly 38 years, retiring in 1985. The job he held most of his career with Caterpillar was as a quality assurance manager. Clarence was a member of the Vandalia Masonic Lodge #491, served on the Spring Lake School District board in Illinois for 11 years and a member of the Mt. Olivet Presbyterian Church south of Vandalia. He enjoyed fishing and spending time with his family as they traveled.

Born: March 9, 1930 in Hannibal, Missouri the son of Floyd Winslow and Mayme Eldora (Thomas) Welch.

Married: Rosalind Laverne Lewis on November 12, 1949 in Vandalia; she survives at the home.

Survivors include: wife, Rosalind of Vandalia; four sons: Arnold L. and wife, Carol Ann Welch of Tucson, Arizona; Daniel V. and wife, Kitty Welch of Warrenton, Missouri; Bradley L. and wife, Michelle Welch of Vandalia; D. Scott Welch and friend Sherri of Davenport, Iowa; four daughters: Jeanne R. and husband, Mark Almblade of E. Moline, Illinois; Carmen L. and husband, John Butte of Dunlap, Illinois; Lori V. Helton of Vandalia; Christy Y. Carrier and friend Charles Sincavage of West Chester, Ohio; three sisters: Mildred Claypool of San Antonio, Texas; Betty J. Morris of Springfield, Tennessee; Yvonne Kline of Tampa, Florida; 19 grandchildren: Jennifer McConnell, Rachel Welch, Stephen Psinas, Matthew Almblade, Michael Almblade, Jason Welch, Melanie Ulary, Nicole Rusk, Stephanie Young, Bryan Challacombe, Alex Butte, Ashley Dikan, Darren Welch, Chad Helton, Corey Helton, Angela Carrier, Holly Carrier, Zachary Carrier and Kristopher Carrier; also survived by 19 great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

Preceded in death by: parents; a daughter who died in infancy; three brothers: Floyd Welch Jr., Carroll T. Welch and Terrence Welch who died in infancy; one sister: Lillian Heaton.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are encouraged to the Mt. Olivet Presbyterian Church or the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in care of Waters Funeral Home, P O Box 84, Vandalia, Missouri 63382-0084.