Mrs. Welch was a member of the First General Baptist Church in Dexter, a former member of a Women’s Missionary Quartet singing group.   She was a nurse for 51 years, working in Jewish Hospital, City Hospital and Delmar Gardens Residential Care all in St. Louis and had worked in the Dexter Convalescent Nursing Center. She was a resident of Dexter.

She was united in marriage to Woodrow Welch.  Mr. Welch preceded her in death on November 8, 1983.

She is survived by two brothers, Fred “BUDDY” Ward and Roy Ward both of Dexter: by three sisters, Katherine Williams of Dexter, Joy Oliver of Arnold and Katy Scism of St. Louis: by two grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Besides her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by two sons, Mack Spitzmiller and Ronnie Welch: by one brother, Bob Ward.

Friends may call at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter from 5 until 8 p.m., Tuesday, November 29, 2011.  Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m., Wednesday, November 30, 2011 in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel with Rev. Kenneth Biggs officiating.  Interment will follow in the Gravel Hill Cemetery at rural Bloomfield.