A native of oglethorpe county, ga. He retired from the us  navy as master chief serving 30 years. he also retired from the university of georgia where he worked in the physical plant for 20 years. but most will remember his gas stations. where he performed mechaincal repairs in and around athens. In 1999 he and his wife Shirley flannagan Welch of 56 years, retired to lincolnton ga. he was a member of  young harris united methodist church. They had 8 children and 28 grandchildren and 12 great grand children........