Basil C. Welch, II ("Sonny"), Died November 29, 2017

Born on August 31, 1942 in a coal mining camp at Fork Mountain, Tennessee to Basil C. Welch and Lena Carter Welch. He grew up in White County in Sparta, TN. Upon graduating from White County High School, he moved to Nashville to attend the Southern Academy of Clinical Technology where he met his future wife, Shirley Wyatt. Upon graduating, he accepted a position at Clarksville Memorial Hospital for one year before moving back to Nashville to join the American Red Cross in 1963, specializing in blood banking. He held the positions of Chief Technologist for the next 14 years during which time he served two years in the U.S. Army, stationed at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey. In 1977, he was promoted to Director Product Management at the Red Cross, insuring a steady supply of blood products and services to 108 hospitals in a 4 state area, a responsibility which he took seriously and enjoyed very much. He retired from the American Red Cross as the Executive Director of Marketing and Customer Relations at age 53. He worked briefly for one year with Southeastern Marine in Hendersonville Tennessee before joining Forensic Medical Management Services as the Chief Operations Officer.  At Forensic Medical, he assisted in development of the company, providing Medical Examiner services to most of Tennessee.  He held this position until retiring again at age 65. During his early years after normal working hours, he also ran the emergency room stat lab at Vanderbilt University Medical Center for 4 years and another ten years for International Clinical Laboratories at West Side Hospital.  He stated to others that he always liked the positions he held and secured his family's future, having been actively employed his entire career. He was an active member of the National Association of Medical Examiners, the American Association of Blood Banks and was a past President of the Tennessee Association of Blood Banks.

He married his devoted and loving wife Shirley Wyatt Welch on August 23, 1963 , a marriage lasting 54 years. They had two children of which he was immensely proud, for their dedication to their chosen fields and their hard work.  Daughter Leslie Welch Hopkins, husband Robert Hopkins IV, Smyrna TN, one grandson Zachary Wyatt Coleman. Son Derek Christopher Welch, wife Leslie Marnett Welch, three grandchildren, Carter Remington Welch, Hudson Scarborough Welch and Lila Elizabeth Welch.

He had three sisters, Ouida Welch Williams, husband Don Williams (deceased) Seymour, TN; Lila Jane Welch McCalman of Merritt Island, FL (deceased), husband J. R. (Pete) McCalman of Merritt Island, FL (deceased); Linda Simmons Upchurch, husband Richard Upchurch of Nashville, TN.

He leaves numerous nieces and nephews, including:  Rod Williams, wife Luella of Nashville, TN; Don Williams, wife Jean of Seymour, TN; Tim Williams, wife Amy of  Knoxville, TN, Rebecca Mandel,  husband Dale Mandel of Nashville, TN;  Kathleen Williams Mooradian, husband Don Mooradian of Nashville, TN;

Mark McCalman, wife Donna, Johnson City, TN;  Michael  McCalman, husband John Hoffman, New York City, NY; Cindy DeWitt, husband Andy of Winter Park, FL; Thomas Upchurch, wife Elizabeth of Memphis, TN, and many more extended family members.

While growing up in White County, TN, he often said the entire county was his playground.  It was here he hunted, explored and fished the Calfkiller River running through his grandfather Carter's farm, and the head of the Caney Fork River where his Welch ancestral grounds are overlooked by Welch Point, a protected area thanks to the Tennessee Parks and Greenways Foundation and the efforts of niece Kathleen Williams Mooradian.   As his adult sporting outlet, he enjoyed Center Hill Lake all of his life with family and friends, especially when he and Shirley co-owned a house boat with their best friends Lyall and Marie Craft for years…….in his words, "the good life".