Richard "Rick" Welch

The Cochran Funeral Home of Hiawassee announces Funeral Services for Mr. Richard "Rick" Welch, age 61 of Hiawassee who passed away on March 14, 2018.

Rick was a blessing to all who knew him, and was a faithful Deacon and Sunday School Teacher of Lower Bell Creek Baptist Church for many years. His grand children were the love of his life, and they loved him! Rick was a man who loved his Harley Davidson and rode it every chance he could. He helped many in his school classes, and it has been said they would not have passed each year without Rick's tutoring. He excelled in academics and in sports, especially basketball, and was valedictorian of his senior class. When not playing with his grandchildren or riding his Harley, he enjoyed panning for gold in the surrounding areas. Sometimes he would use part of his vacation time and spend a whole week looking for that precious metal.

He will be missed by all who knew him, but especially by his family: loving wife of 41 years, Doris Moss Welch; daughter & son-in-law, Jaclyn & Bret Davenport; and 2 grandchildren, Robert Slade Davenport and Zachary Orlen Davenport. Rick was preceded in death by his parents, Chester & Anna Belle Welch, and brother, Jerry Allen Welch.

Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 17, 2018 at Lower Bell Creek Baptist Church with Rev. Bryan Satterfield and Rev. Kevin Moss officiating. Special music will be presented by The Hunter Family & Freda Nicholson. Interment will be held at Lower Bell Creek Cemetery. The following gentlemen will serve as Pallbearers: Kevin Moss, Anthony Hunter, Charles Gribble, Zachary Davenport, Slade Davenport, and Jesse Chamblee. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Friday evening, from 6 until 8 p.m.

Arrangements are entrusted to Cochran Funeral Home of Hiawassee