DATE: Wednesday, October 1, 1997            TAG: 9710010366

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B8   EDITION: FINAL 

DATELINE: NORFOLK                           LENGTH:   26 lines

EARL J. WELCH SR.

Earl James Welch Sr. of the 900 block of Mariner St. died Sept. 26, 1997, in a local hospital.

Born in Norfolk, he was a self-employed fuel vendor.

Survivors included his wife, Mildred P. Welch; five daughters, Wilbertine Jefferson, Gail Stone, Barbara Jones, Velma Brown, Mildred Poole; five sons, Earl Welch Jr., Van Price Welch, Bobby Welch, Ricky Welch, Anton Lofton and Donnie Welch; a sister, Elizabeth Young; three brothers, William Welch, Sterling Whitfield and George Harper; 22 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren; and a host of relatives and friends. He was predeceased by two sons, Donnell Welch and Lorenzo Retaile Welch.

A funeral will be conducted at 1 p.m. Thursday in Enoch Baptist Church by Dr. Micheal G. Daniels, pastor, and with Elder James E. Reeves officiating. Burial will be in Roosevelt Memorial Park. Family and friends will assemble at the residence the day of the service. A wake service will be held from 7 to 8 p.m. Wednesday. Graves Funeral Home is in charge. ILLUSTRATION: Photo KEYWORDS: DEATH OBITUARY

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