John Henderson Welch

John Henderson Welch 67, of Amarillo died Wednesday June 15, 2011 in Amarillo after a long battle with cancer. Services will be at 2:00 PM Saturday at South Georgia Baptist Church with Bob Miller, pastor and Robert Brown, assoc. pastor officiating. Entombment will be at Memorial Park East Mausoleum. Arrangements are by Rector Funeral Home, 2800 S. Osage St. John was born on the family farm, East of Sweetwater, OK on May 18, 1943 to Elgia and Mae (Ragsdale) Welch. He was the ninth of twelve children. He graduated from Sweetwater High School in 1961. He married Dorothy Newsom in 1963 in Allison. At one time John was a bull rider and cowboy. He served in the U.S. Army from 1966-1968. He began driving a truck in 1971 and continued until his retirement from ABF Freight in 2010. He had also been and owner-operator. John enjoyed many good friends in the trucking industry. He was a member of South Georgia Baptist Church, where he continued to find good friends and Christian fellowship that influenced his life. He was preceded in death by a still-born daughter, his parents and three brothers; Bill, Troy and Buck. He is survived by his wife Dorothy of the home, 1 daughter, Letitia Welch-Benson and husband Jamie of Amarillo, 1 son, Army Chief Warrant Officer Jeremy Welch and wife Lindsay of Manhattan, KS; 4 grandchildren, Rebekah, Savannah and Mason Welch of Manhattan, KS and Brett Benson of Caldwell, ID; 2 brothers, Ray Welch and his wife Shirley of Madras, OR and Chuch Welch and his wife Sharon of Falcon, CO; 6 sisters, Hazel Miller and her husband Domer and Barbara Williams and her husband Bud all of Allison, Della Wolf of Norman, OK, Shirley Spitzer and her husband J.C. of Sayre, OK, Joy Meadows of Wheeler and Betty Newsom and her husband Leslie of Odessa; his sister in law, Vivian Newsom-Boston and her husband Fred of San Angelo; and many nieces and nephews. The family wishes to thank Dr. Seah Lim and the nurses and staff of Texas Oncology and the oncology nurses at Northwest Texas Healthcare System, for the Loving care they gave John during his illness. Memorial donations may be made to South Georgia Baptist Church Building Fund, 5209 S. Georgia Amarillo, Texas 79110 or the Care net Crisis Pregnancy Center PO Box 50342 Amarillo, Texas 79159. Viewing will be from 8:30 AM - 3:00 PM Friday at the funeral home and 9:00 AM - noon Saturday at South Georgia Baptist Church, The family will receive friends from 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM Friday and at South Georgia Baptist Church.