Ruth Welch

Mrs. Ruth Welch, age 90, of Grand Junction, Tennessee, passed from this life Friday afternoon, October 23, 2015 at Bolivar General Hospital.

She was born Wednesday, September 2, 1925, in Memphis, TN. Ruth married John P. Welch September 9, 1943 and were happily married for 59 years until his passing on November 19, 2002. She was the first secretary at Ames Plantation and also worked for the Forestry Division. Mrs. Welch worked for Rogers & Sons Monuments in Grand Junction, as well. She served as a school teacher and bookkeeper for the First United Methodist Church of Grand Junction, where she was a member. Ruth was a 50 year member of the Order of the Eastern Star and was the first female alderman for the city of Grand Junction.

She is survived two sons, Timothy Welch (Deborah) of Grand Junction, and John Paul Welch, Jr. of Perryville, MD; a daughter, Barnye Ates (Frank) of Millington; and one grandchild, John Wesley Ates. She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, John P. Welch, Sr.; a son, Richard A. Welch; and four sisters, Roberta Wyseski, Sara Glover, Iva "Billy" Bruno, and Ann Pittman.

The family requests that memorial donations be made to the Alzheimer's Association. (www.alz.org/donate‎).