Darwin Ray Welch, 95, of Kingwood, passed away on Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2022, at J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown.
He was born in Terra Alta, on Jan. 22 1927. The son of the late Clyde Bishop Welch and Myrtle Alice (Lemon) Welch.
Darwin was the owner and operator of the Route 7 Farm and Market for many years. He was a 1944 graduate of Kingwood High School and received the FFA American farmer degree in Kansas City, Mo. Following high school, he attended West Virginia University and in 1950 he received his degree in agriculture science. He was a U.S. Army Veteran and served during the Korean War. He served as a 4-H leader for over 20 years. He started the Preston County Antique Tractor and Machinery Association and enjoyed helping with the Preston County Buckwheat Festival, especially with the Preston County Livestock Association.
Darwin is survived by two nieces, Rebecca Cline, of Ravenna, Ohio, and Nancy and Gary Lynch, of Somerset, Pa.; one nephew, David and Connie Welch, of Berlin, Pa.; one sister-in-law, Dorothea L. Welch, of Somerset, Pa.; eight great-nieces and -nephews; and 20 great-great-nieces and -nephews.
As well as his parents, Darwin was preceded in death by two brothers, Donald H. Welch, Benjamin C. Welch; one sister and spouse, Elizabeth and Bill Brown; and one niece, Donna Lee Welch.
Friends will be received at the Kingwood Funeral Home, 295 South Price St., Kingwood from 4-7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 21. Funeral services will be conducted in the funeral home chapel at 11 a.m. on Saturday with the Rev. Ray Frankhouser officiating. Interment will follow at Maplewood Cemetery in Kingwood. Military honors will be accorded.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making donations to Preston County Livestock Association, P.O. Box 236, Kingwood, WV 26537.
Condolences:
www.kingwoodfunealhomewv.com
