Charles Welch

Charles Walter Welch, age 75, of Buffalo, Missouri, passed away Monday, August 1, 2016, at Mercy Hospital in Springfield, Missouri. He was born September 12, 1940, at the McGregor Hospital in St. George, Utah, to Charles Joshua "Josh" and Rebecca Jane (Holmes) Welch. He spent his first five years at Wolf Hole on the Arizona Strip with his brothers, David and Jimmy, and his sister, Dorothy, where Charles began his life-long love of the cowboy way. The family moved into St. George just before Josh's death in 1946. In 1948, his mother married Walter Shelley and three more brothers were born; Larry, Dean, and Bert. Growing up in St. George, Charles was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He graduated from Woodward High School in 1958 and married Venna Ann Chadburn on May 28, 1958. Three children were born to Charles and Venna; Gary Charles, Alison, and Terry Wayne. They lived for several years in Veyo and then moved to St. George where Charles and Venna were divorced in 1970. Charles married Sharon Dee Sinsel on March 25, 1971, and they have one daughter, Mandy Luree (Welch) Larsen. They moved to Las Vegas in 1972 where Charles owned and operated several service stations. They moved back to St. George in 1987 and then to Missouri in 2015. Charles came from humble beginnings and started working at a very young age. He worked for ranchers, a feed store, a turkey farm, a bottling company, and a service station. He was an astute, successful business man and made his career in the service station business. When he sold his last service station, he purchased a cow/calf operation on the Arizona Strip which he operated until his health forced him to retire. His love of ranching drew him out of retirement to Missouri where he was building a herd of quality Angus cows. Charles was admired by many as the ultimate cowboy. His passion centered around horses and rodeo. He rode as a jockey when he was young and loved fast horses. As a young man, he was a talented steer wrestler and calf roper. In his adult years, he raised many successful race horses that he later trained and competed on in the rodeo and roping arena. He was an avid team roper and continued his winning ways throughout his life, bringing home many buckles, saddles, and a horse trailer. Charles loved his family and adored his grandchildren. Some of his "coffee shop" buddies grew tired of hearing him boost about their successes but he was so proud of them he didn‘t care. He always supported them and enjoyed attending their functions from school to motor cross to rodeo. He had a special way with children and was a kind man whose quiet strength and sense of humor drew people to him wherever he went. He will remembered and missed by all those who knew him. Charles is survived by his wife, Sharon, of 45 years; son Gary Charles (Marcella "Marcy"), of St. George, UT; son Terry Wayne (Wendy), of Pleasant Grove, UT; daughter Alison (Mike Gagon), of Highland, UT; daughter Mandy Luree (Tracy Larsen) of Buffalo, MO; 8 grandchildren, 3 great grandchildren; 5 brothers and 1 sister. Charles is preceded in death by his parents. A memorial service will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 7, 2016, at the Cotton Town Village, 25 North 300 West, Washington, Utah.