Edward V. Welch, 89, a longtime resident of Kirksville, passed away peacefully on Friday, July 31, 2015, with family at his side.

Mr. Welch was born on May 12, 1926, in Chariton County at Swan Lake near Sumner, to Frank and Hattie Welch. He was the eighth of 10 children, and the last surviving member of his original family. He spent most of his childhood in Brookfield, where he graduated from Brookfield High in 1948.

Mr. Welch left high school in 1943 during his sophomore year to enlist in the Navy during World War II. He served in the Central South Pacific until February 1946, then returned to Brookfield to finish high school, after which he attended two years of business college in Chillicothe.

He married Dorthy Newkirk, formerly of Goldsberry, on Sept. 13, 1952, at Park Baptist Church of Brookfield. They raised two children, and celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in 2012.

Mr. Welch was employed by the Burlington Northern Railroad, originally the C.B.&Q, for 41 years. Starting in 1949, he held positions as a telegraph operator and depot agent in Brookfield, also working in Kansas City; Montrose, Iowa; the St. Charles area; and Monroe City until moving to Kirksville in 1957. He was an agent for the railroad in Kirksville until the depot there closed its doors in 1981, then worked in Brookfield until his retirement in 1990.

He was a former member of First Baptist Church, a charter member of Fellowship Baptist and later attended Church of God Holiness. He was also a longtime member of the Eagles Club in Brookfield.

Mr. Welch is preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Brenda Jane Welch; six sisters: Rosa Briggs, Evalena Welch, Daisie Welch, Dorothy N. Stevens, Nona Louise Straub and Wanda Jane Welch; and three brothers: Obed N. Welch, Wilber Ray Welch and Charles W. Welch.

He is survived by his wife, Dorthy M. Welch of Kirksville; son Michael Ray Welch of San Diego, California, and wife Diane; daughter Karen Sue Welch of Tulsa, Oklahoma; a sister-in-law, Ernestine Welch of Redlands, California; and several nephews, nieces and cousins.

Funeral services will be held 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, August 4, 2015 with family receiving friends one hour before the service in the chapel of Travis-Noe Funeral Home in Kirksville. Interment will follow the service at Maple Hills Cemetery in Kirksville.

Expressions of sympathy in memory of Edward Welch may be made to the Church of God Holiness. Memorials may be left at or mailed to Travis-Noe Funeral Home, P.O. Box 306, Kirksville, MO 63501.