	Earl Weldon Welch, 86, of 304 S. Dean Street, Royalton, Illinois died at 6:20 a.m., Saturday, April 9, 2005 at Marshall-Browning Hospital in Du Quoin.
	Earl was born May 28, 1918 in Blairsville, Illinois to John Harley and Ruth (Smith) Welch.
	He married Helen Pryzbylski November 2, 1939 in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.  She survives in Du Quoin.
	Other survivors include a son and daughter-in-law, Andrew Weldon and Sandra Welch of Coconut Creek, Florida; a daughter and son-in-law, Nancy and Troy Colp of Royalton; seven grandchildren, Brian and Cheryl Welch and Mark Colp of Royalton, Daniel Welch of Nashville, Tennessee, James Welch of Ackworth, Georgia, Ginger and George Wald of Coconut Creek, Florida, Brock and Cindy Colp of Johnston City and David Boucher of Murphysboro; five great grandchildren, Brook Todd of Coconut Creek, Florida, Brandy Colp and T.J. Whitecotton of Johnston City, Joseph Colp, Tiffany Welch and April Waldron all of Royalton and a step-sister, Kay Marlo of Herrin.
	His parents; a granddaughter, Andrea (Colp) Boucher; two sisters Evelyn Wood and Aline Darnell and a brother, Vyrle S. "Penny" Welch preceded him in death.
	Mr. Welch was a member of the St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Royalton and the Knights of Columbus in Herrin.  He was a retired parts manager for McBride Mack Truck Sales in Carbondale.  Earl was a die hard Chicago Cubs fan, an avid fisherman and hunter and loved to play cards.
	Funeral services for Mr. Welch will be held at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, April 13, 2005 at Vantrease Funeral Home in Royalton with Father Larry Lemay officiating.  Burial will be at the Miners Cemetery east of Royalton.  Visiting hours are from 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home where a prayer service will be held at 7:00 p.m.
	Memorial contributions in memory of Mr. Welch may be made to the Miners Cemetery Fund and will be accepted at the funeral home or may be mailed to Mrs. Nancy Colp, P.O. Box 340, Royalton, IL 62983. 
	To view this obituary and sign the register book, visit our website at vantreasefuneralhome.com.
