Eugene Welch

Eugene L. Welch CHESAPEAKE - Eugene L. Welch, 82, of the 1500 block of Hawthorne Drive, lost his battle with cancer April 16, 2010 in Chesapeake. He was born in Grover, N.C., and was the son of the late Clyde and Georgia Welch. Gene came to the Tidewater area while serving in the U.S. Army in 1951, where he met his future wife. After his discharge from the Army, he went to work for E.T. Gresham Co. Inc. He belonged to the International Union of Operating Engineers. He enjoyed his job as a crane operator and retired from E.T. Gresham after 38 years. He is survived by his daughter, Margaret DeHart and husband Donnie of Chesapeake; his son, Donnie Welch of Chesapeake; four sisters, Hazel Conner of Greenville, S.C., Bonnie Wallace of Kings Mountain, N.C., Phyllis Lupo of Matthews, N.C., and Linda Boulet of Hopkins, S.C.; a brother, Herbert Welch of Bessemer City, N.C.; and two grandchildren, Bobby Welch of Charlottesville, Va., and Bryan DeHart, his wife Meaghan and their children Cameron and Brayden of Moyock, N.C. He was predeceased by his wife of 50 years, Betty J. Welch; his son, Ronnie Welch; and two brothers, Howard Welch and Johnny Welch. A funeral will be conducted Wednesday at 11 a.m. at Hollomon-Brown Funeral Home, Indian River Chapel. The burial will follow in Rosewood Memorial Park. The family will receive friends at the funeral home Tuesday from 7 to 9 p.m. Condolences may be offered to the family at www.hollomon-brown.com.