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Richard Earl Welch
JUNE 15, 1952 – JUNE 8, 2020
IN THE CARE OF
Funeral services for Richard Earl Welch will be held on Tuesday, June 16th, 2020 at 2:00 PM at Reed-Culver Chapel with Pastor Mathew Lawrence officiating. His family will receive guests on Monday, June 15th, 2020 beginning at 2:00 PM until 7:00 PM at Reed-Culver Chapel. He will be laid to rest by his family in Holland Cemetery in Tahlequah, OK. Online condolences for his family may be left at www.reeduclver.com.
Pallbearers for Richard include Lacy Lockwood, Joe Hughart, Luke Abel, Brian Jones, Shiloh Shores, and Robert Wilder. His honorary pallbearers include Michael Braumfield, Brian Scroggins, Les Meehan, Colby Morgan, Alan Nichols, and Ron Hagel.
Richard Earl Welch was born on Sunday, June 15th, 1952, in Broken Arrow, OK, the son of Mitchell and Dora (Watkins) Welch. This was truly a large, close knit family of seventeen children. He graduated from school, and then enlisted into the US Army where he served honorably from July 23rd, 1972 until September 14th, 1976 , during the Vietnam Conflict. Richard was a hard working man. He married Donna Ritchie on August 27th, 1991. He loved time spent with his family, they were his reason for getting up every day. He liked to enjoy a little free time going fishing, it didn’t matter if they were biting or not, working in his garden, singing and playing on his guitar, he really liked country, gospel, and bluegrass, and collecting coins, baseball cards, marbles, to name a few. The best times in life was when he and Donna could gather the kids and the grandchildren to celebrate a holiday and birthdays. He absolutely adored them and was very proud of them all. He was the kind of man that had a smile on his face no matter what, always said hello, and took the time to visit. There was always a twinkle in his eye and he was everyone’s friend. A Christian by faith, he attended Carter Baptist Church, and served in any capacity that was every asked of him. His health began to fade and the Lord called this son, brother, husband, dad and Papa home from his many labors on Monday, June 8th, 2020 at his home, surrounded by the wife and family that he loved and adored. He was 67 years old.
He is preceded in death by his father and mother, his grandparents, his five sisters, Cora Bell Welch, Dorothy Leonard, Mildred Scroggins, Francis Rollins, and Barbara Kerns, and his five brothers, Robert Welch, Raymond Welch, Troy Welch, James Welch and Albert Welch, and one great grandson, Logan Michael Scott.
Those left to cherish his memory include his beloved wife Donna Welch of the family home, and his children, Tony Fallen and wife Shelly of Tahlequah, OK, Tonya Lockwood and husband Lacy of Tahlequah, OK, Donnie Smithee and wife Amanda of Temple, TX, Amy Smithee of Tulsa, OK, and J.R. Smithee and wife Gena of Collinsville, OK. Richard lives on in his grandchildren, Jeremy Fallen and wife Karisa Kennedy of Tahlequah, OK , Tiffany Fallen and husband Jon Scott of Tahlequah, OK, Garrett Gower and wife Paige of Claremore, OK, Lesley Gower of Tahlequah, OK, Justin Lockwood of Tahlequah, OK, Wyatt and Gentry Smithee of Collinsville, OK, Brandy Siler and husband Anthony of Hulbert, OK, Cody Lockwood, Proctor, OK, Dalton Lockwood of Peggs, OK, Payton and Cameron Smithee of Temple, TX, Jacob Zickefoose of Glenpool, OK, Tyler Smithee of Tulsa, OK, Laken Young of Oologah, OK, and a bonus grand-daughter Haleigh Howe of Tahlequah, OK. There were five great-grandchildren, Rayley, Brynlee, Lynox and Maveryk Fallen all of Tahlequah, and Easton Siler of Hulbert, OK. His five sisters Bonnie Baker & husband Leroy of Hulbert, OK, Bernice Scroggins and husband Bob, Linda Braumfield and husband Charles, Jenny Peckenpaugh and husband Bill, Sue Scorggins and husband J.B. and one brother Harold Welch and wife Christine all of Wagoner, OK. There are many nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of friends and loved ones.
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