James Welch (Mansfield)'s Obituary
James Welch, son of Henry and Ruth Pigeon Welch was born July 5, 1934 in Neligh, Nebraska and departed this life on August 30, 2019 in Lebanon, Missouri at the age of eighty-five years, one month and 25 days.
On June 7, 1957, he was united in marriage to Clair Lucille Welch and to this union four children born.
He was preceded in death by his wife: Clair Lucille; parents: Henry and Ruth Welch; son: Michael James; daughter: Jeanette Lucille; and brother: Donnie Welch.
James is survived by his daughter, Ruth Ridenhour and husband, Michael, of Licking, Missouri; son, James Welch and partner Brent Hall of Alabama; three grandchildren, Miranda Renee McCourt of Long Beach, California; Samantha Lucille Tabb of Colorado Springs, Colorado; and Claireesa Joy of Kirksville, Missouri; three great-grandchildren: Kendall Lucille Edwards, Charlie Ray McCourt and Peyton James Tabb and several nieces, nephews, other relatives and several friends.
He was born and raised in Neligh, Nebraska. He graduated from Neligh High School in 1952. He received his bachelor’s in criminal justice from University of Maryland.
James Welch attended the local Methodist Church. He spent 27 years in the Military and retired in June of 1980. James and his wife moved back to Mansfield, Missouri after retiring. He and his wife moved to Farmington, Missouri where he started working for the Missouri State Prison System. Once he retired from the prison system he and his wife moved to Lebanon, Missouri where he lived at the time of his death. He loved being around his family and in their later years traveling with his wife and grandchildren. He was a wonderful soldier, husband, father, and PaPa. We love him and will miss him very much.
Celebration of Life Reception to honor James and Claire’s life together will be held Saturday, September 14, 2019 from 2:00 to 7:00 p.m. at their home at 22658 Green Hills Road, Lebanon, MO. Full military honors will be at 3:30 p.m. at the home. Services are under the direction of Holman-Howe Funeral Home of Mansfield.
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