W.D. 'Dub' Welker Jr.

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- W.D. "Dub" Welker Jr., 88, of Chaffee passed away Sunday, April 24, 2016, in Chaffee.

Dub was born Nov. 22, 1927, in Cape Girardeau to Willis D. and Katie Kistner Welker. Dub married Lela Lorene Givens on Feb. 6, 1980, in Jackson.

He was a 1945 graduate of Cape Girardeau Central High School.

He served in the U.S. Army from November 1945 to March 1947. He was a construction machine operator in the Pacific. Dub earned the Victory Medal and Army of Occupation Medal, Japan. He also served in the Missouri National Guard.

Dub worked at the Cape Girardeau Fire Department 31 years, retiring as a captain. During that time, he also worked with his brother, L.L. "Fritz" Welker as a plumber. After retiring, he worked 15 years at Delta High School in Delta as a custodian and bus driver. Later, he was the custodian at Eagle Ridge Christian School in Cape Girardeau.

Dub was a member of the New Life Gospel Center in Scott City.

Loving survivors include his wife of 36 years, Lela Lorene of Chaffee; eight children, Susan Welker of Hannibal, Missouri, Kathy (Bernie) Horn of Jackson, Sam (Rebecca) Welker and Dan (Karen) Welker, both of Cape Girardeau, George (Debbie) Welker of Carrollton, Texas, Rick (Susan) Gregory of Richmond, Virginia, Ken (Gail) Gregory of Columbus, Ohio, and Sarah (Brad) Hess of Chaffee; 22 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Dianne (Doug) Sebaugh; and seven siblings.

Visitation will be from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. today at the Amick-Burnett Chapel in Scott City.

Graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield, with pastor Jack Owens officiating and eulogy by Gene Peacock. Burial will be with full military honors.

Memorials may take the form of contributions to Eagle Ridge Christian School in Cape Girardeau.

Online condolences may be shared at www.amick-burnettfuneralchapels.com.