William S. "Bill" Welch

William S. "Bill" Welch born January 29, 1930 went to be with the Lord on March 21, 2011 at the age of 81. Visitation will be from 1-3 p.m. with funeral services immediately following on Friday, March 25 at Memory Chapel Funeral Home in Laurel, Miss., with burial in Union Line Cemetery. He was preceded in death by his parents, Alson Welch and Eretta Hilbun Welch of Soso, Miss. He is survived by his wife Martile Welborn Welch; son, Steven A. Welch and daughter-in-law, Patty F. Welch; sisters, Carolyn (Robert) Sullivan, Janet (Ronnie) McNair and brother, Joe (Nina) Welch. He attended Union Line Elementary School and Soso High School graduating at age 15 as class salutatorian. He continued his education at Jones County Junior College and went on to graduate from Mississippi College with honors in 1949 at the age of 19. He spent the first eight years of his working life in the oil industry as a chemist. From that point until reaching the age of 75 he was primarily employed in Electric Utility related positions. During this period he was with the Rural Electrification Administration (REA) in Indiana and Washington, D.C.; General Manager of Jackson EMC in Jefferson, Ga.; Vice-President of sales with Howard Industries from its inception until the early 1980's of Laurel, Miss.; Vice-President of sales with Arkansas Electric Cooperatives located in Little Rock, Ark. and during this same period also served as Vice-President of sales for ERMCO Transformers located in Dyersburg, Tenn. The remaining 11 years of his work he and his wife (Martile) operated Welch & Associates, Inc., a firm representing manufacturers of electrical products. Mr. Welch was accorded a number of honors during his active community life. He was named Citizen of the Year in Purvis, Miss.; Columbia, Miss.; and Jefferson, Ga. He received two national awards while serving in the Mississippi Jaycees as well as their "Young Man of the Year" award for the state of Mississippi. As long as his health allowed he was an active church member wherever he and his family lived. He was also active in the 4-H Club, FFA, Boy Scouts, Lions Club and Rotary Club at various times. His hobbies were traveling and supporting his beloved Mississippi State Bulldogs. Bill loved his family, his friends and animals, particularly his dogs. Memorials may be made to Maples Memorial United Methodist Church, 8745 Goodman Road, Olive Branch, Miss. 38654.