Virgil Grady Welch

Virgil was born in Pinehurst, Georgia and graduated from Vienna High School in 1959. After graduating, he entered the United States Air Force, serving until 1963. After his military service, Virgil received his bachelor's degree from the University of Georgia. Virgil began his career with the Athens-Clarke County Police Department in 1976, where he worked until his retirement in 2003. While with the police department, he was a deputy, investigator, sergeant, firearms supervisor, and taught firearm safety classes. Virgil was a member of Prince Avenue Baptist Church and the Athens Rifle Club.

Mr. Welch was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Arletha Faulk Welch; brother, Larry Welch; and sister, Margaret Welch Bowman.

Virgil is survived by his wife, Suzann Welch of Athens; son, Lee V. Welch and his wife, Abigail, of Knoxville, TN; sister, Janice Pietrzak and her husband, Pete, of Texas; sister-in-law, Cathryn Harris and her husband, John, of Charleston, WV; and his life-long friends, Wayne and Elley Martin of South Carolina.

A gathering of family and friends will be held 2:00 to 4:00 PM, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Bernstein Funeral Home.

Burial will be held privately.

Bernstein Funeral Home is in charge of funeral arrangements.