Charlotte Marie Welch

Charlotte Marie (Cline) Welch, age 84 years, 4 months, 13 days, of Wilburton, Oklahoma, passed away Thursday, September 17, 2009 at the St. Edwards Hospital in Fort Smith, Arkansas.

Charlotte was born May 4, 1925 in Tonkawa, Oklahoma to Virgil Lavert Cline, Sr. and Myrtle Lillian (Tribbey) Cline. At an early age, the family moved to Ponca City, where Charlotte accepted Christ as her Savior and was baptized at the First Baptist Church. She was a graduate of Ponca City High School and shortly after moved to Los Angeles, California where she was employed by Trumble Electric Company.

She returned to Ponca City and worked as a secretary for City Services Oil Refinery where she met, fell in love with, and married a young Chemical Engineer, Bill Welch, on February 16, 1952. The couple lived in Oklahoma City where their two sons were born.

In 1960, the family moved to Wilburton where her husband, Bill, was Judge for many years. During these years, she was employed at Jones Academy,Eastern Oklahoma A&M; College and Kiamichi Electric. After her children began school, Charlotte furthered her own education, graduating from Eastern Oklahoma A&M; College and the University of Oklahoma.

In 1969, Charlotte began working for the newly formed Kiamichi Vo-Tech District. In 1988, she retired from Vo-Tech and worked in her husband’s law office until his death in 1994.

Charlotte is survived by 2 sons, William Dale Welch and wife, Lois, of Wilburton, Oklahoma; Joseph Lee Welch, of Stillwater, Oklahoma. She is also survived by 8 grandchildren: Regina Lee Gritsavage and husband, David, of Barre, VT; Jillian Dale Welch, of Lawton, OK; Charlene Annette Bockus and husband, Michael, of Austin, TX; William Daniel Welch, of Edmond, OK; Alexander Nicolai Welch, Kathleen Marie Welch, both of Tulsa, OK; Mary Lee Welch, Grace Tribbey Welch, both of Stillwater, OK; and 1 great-grandchild, Beau Bockus, of Austin, TX; sister-in-law, Gwen Cline, of Oklahoma City, OK, and many nieces and nephews.

Charlotte was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, 2 brothers, Virgil Lavert Cline, Jr. and Raymond Tribbey Cline, and one sister-in-law, Irene Cline.

Services at First Baptist Church, Wilburton, OK at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, September 21, 2009 with Rev. Doug Miller officiating. Interment to follow at the Elmwood Cemetery in Hartshorne, Oklahoma. Family will greet friends at the funeral home Sunday, 6-8 p.m.

Pallbearers: Alex Welch, Billy Welch, Denny Southard, Mike Bockus, Danny Weston, Israel Beauchamp. Honorary Pallbearers: Jim Beard, J.N. Baker and the Esther Sunday School Class.

Services under the direction of Waldrop Funeral Home, Wilburton, Oklahoma.

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