Melvin Benton Welch

© Enid, OK. News & Eagle

May 2, 2010

Submitted by: Sylva Rhodes

© Glenn

Melvin Benton Welch

The funeral for Melvin Benton Welch, 104, of Helena, will be 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 4, 2010, at Helena Baptist Church. Revs. Scott Hofen and Andy Jobe will officiate. Burial will be in Good Hope Cemetery with arrangements by Lanman Funeral Home Inc., Helena. Viewing will be 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday with the family present from 6-8 p.m. and 9 a.m. to noon Tuesday. Memories may be shared online with the family at www.lanmanmemorials.com.

He was born March 10, 1906 on a homestead north of Helena, Okla. Territory to Mark and Jenny Welch and died Friday, April 30, 2010 at The Commons in Enid.

Melvin was a graduate of Helena High School in 1924 and Oklahoma A&M in 1928. At A&M he sang in the men's glee club for four years and continued to use his singing talent throughout his life. A highlight, at age 101, was singing the original state song "Oklahoma, A Toast" at the Oklahoma Centennial Celebration at the Ford Center in Oklahoma City in November, 2007.

Melvin and Velma Werner were married June 29, 1929. She preceded him in death in 1988. He married Martha Werner Allen Dec 2, 1992. His life work included teaching vocational agriculture and the Soil Conservation Service during the Great Depression and into World War II. During those years Melvin and the family lived in many towns throughout Texas and Oklahoma. He retired from teaching in the Wichita, Kan. Public School system in 1971 and they returned to the farm near Helena.

Surviving are his wife, Martha; his son, Mark Welch and wife Carolyn of Ocean Springs, Miss.; his daughter, Melva Joy Wedge and husband Jack of Hutchinson, Kan.; eight grandchildren, Rex Welch, Sherri Lenz, Scot Welch, Tara Okullo, Kirk Wedge, Robin Jorgenson, Benton Wedge and Luke Wedge; 20 great-grandchildren; two great-great grandchildren; and numerous nephews and nieces and their families.

Memorials may be made through the funeral home to First Baptist Church or the Gideons.