Arleigh "Aj" Welch

Arleigh "AJ" Welch, 95, of Mansfield, passed away Tuesday, June 26, 2018, at Crystal Care Center in Mansfield. He was born April 24, 1923, in Cabin Creek, West Virginia, to the late Arleigh James Welch Sr. and Bertha "Betty" Meadows Welch.

AJ retired from Westinghouse Corp. after 35 years of service. He also owned and operated AJ Welch Heating for many years. He attended Sunnydale Open Bible Church. He loved sitting on the porch of his cabin in West Virginia, known as Fellure Farm. AJ had a green thumb and enjoyed planting a garden and tenderly caring for the bounty he received. He was the biggest Cleveland Indians fan around.

He is survived by a daughter, Arlene (Roger) Kilgore of Lexington; two sons, Mike (Shirley) Welch and Sam Welch, both of Mansfield; eight grandchildren; twenty great-grandchildren; one great-great granddaughter; his special friend and caregiver, Teresa Fagan; numerous nieces and nephews; and three brothers-in-law, Bill (Verlene) Fellure, Jack (Cathy) Fellure and Dick Phillips.

In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his wife of 66 years, Fay Welch, who passed away on November 1, 2012; a brother, Sam; and two sisters, Marie and Julie.

The family will receive friends beginning at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, June 30, 2018, at the Ontario Home of Wappner Funeral Directors, 100 S. Lexington-Springmill Road. The funeral service will immediately follow at 11:00 a.m. with Rev. O. Douglas Tackett officiating. He will be laid to rest beside his beloved wife, Mansfield Memorial Park.

A special thanks to Crystal Care Center for the wonderful care given to AJ during his stay is extended by his grateful family.