JOSEPH WELKER

PERRYVILLE -- Joseph W. "Bud" Welker, 74, of Perryville died Monday, May 1, 2000, at Perry County Memorial Hospital.

He was born July 23, 1925, in Perry County, son of Glenton O. and Birdie Mary Dunker Welker. He and Dolly Mae Feltz were married Oct. 15, 1949, at Sereno.

Welker was retired from Pittsburgh Plate Glass Co.

He was a member of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, an usher, member of Holy Name Society, and was a 3rd Degree member Knights of Columbus. He had been a volunteer with Meals on Wheels in Perry County.

Survivors include his wife; four sons, Brad Welker of Cape Girardeau, Craig Welker of Sikeston, John Welker of Moberly, Mark Welker of St. Louis; four daughters, Christy Presnell, Judy Ernst and Fran Sauer of Perryville, and Mary Splisgardt of St. Louis.

Also surviving are two sisters, Marie Voelker of Perryville, Myrna Thomas of De Soto; a brother, Robert Welker of Perryville; a half brother, Richard Welker of Perryville, two half sisters, Margie Heck of Joliet, Ill., Norma Greif of Farmington; two stepbrothers, R.E. Hart of Bridgeton, Eugene Hart of Patton; a stepsister, Barbara Simpson of Nashville, Tenn.; 19 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, stepmother, and a stepsister.

Friends may call at Miller Family Funeral Home from 4-9 p.m. today, and Thursday from 6:30-9:50 a.m. The parish wake service with the Knights of Columbus will be at 6:30. The rosary will be recited at 9 a.m. Thursday.

Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at St. Vincent's Church, with the Rev. Richard Lause officiating. Burial will be in Mt. Hope Cemetery.