Leonard Wayne Welch, 86, of Henderson passed away Dec. 24, 2022, at Henderson Health & Rehabilitation Center.
Funeral services were 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 27, at Shackelford Funeral Directors- Crook Ave. Chapel with Ralph Culp officiating.
Burial took place the following day at Mt. Evergreen Cemetery in Iuka, Miss. The family received friends at Crook Ave. Chapel on Tuesday from 4-7 p.m. service time.
He was born Jan. 26, 1936, in Iuka, Miss., the son of the late Walter Lee and Maggie Sanders Welch. He grew up and attended school in Iuka. In his youth he drove a log truck, dug water wells and worked in a hosiery mill in Mississippi.
He then began working at Genesco in Mississippi, soon transferred to Denville, Ky., then Massachusetts and Pennsylvania. During his time in Pennsylvania, he met David Sterling who offered him a job at Sterling Last (now Quality Manufacturing) in Henderson, in 1971, as Plant Manager. He retired in 2002 after 30 years with them.
He married Ruth McDougal on March 23, 1968. Ruth preceded him on Feb. 21, 2018.
He enjoyed fishing, bird hunting and traveling; he loved his family and his church family at Sanford Hill Baptist Church.
He is survived by three sons, Brian Lee (Brandi) Welch of Henderson, Ricky W. (Joanna) Welch of Finger and David (Sherry) Gregory of Savannah; a daughter, Sharon (Jeff) Godbey of Waynesburg, Ky.; 10 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; a brother, Bobby Welch of Iuka; one sister, Lavern Walker of Taylorsville, Miss.; and his roommate, Bobby Earl Smith of Henderson.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Ruth McDougal Welch in 2018; five brothers, Clinton Welch, Leroy Welch, Jimmy Welch, Paul Milford Welch and Donald Welch; and a great-grandchild, Izzy Godbey.
