William Welker

William Edmund "Bill" Welker, 60, of Jackson, formerly of Boonville and Silex, Mo., died Wednesday, March 21, 2007, at his home.

He was born Dec. 22, 1946, in Canton, Ill., son of Darold and Annabelle Davis Welker. He and Lisa Galeone were married June 28, 2004, at Trail of Tears State Park.

Welker was a 1965 graduate of Silex High School. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served two tours in Vietnam. After his discharge he enlisted in the Army National Guard as a member of the military police.

While living in Middleton, Mo., he was a custodian, bus driver and volunteer police officer. He retired from the Department of Corrections. He was a member of VFW in Cape Girardeau and Missouri Amphibious Navy.

Survivors include his wife; two daughters, LeNita Welker of Princeton, Mo., DeAnna Gillespie of Marshall, Mo.; three stepdaughters, Jaime Markle of Colorado Springs, Colo., Jessica and Grace Markle of Cape Girardeau; a sister, Barb Wilson of Potosi, Mo.; and four grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents and an infant sister.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. today at Mudd-Veach Funeral Home in Silex. The Rev. George F. Major will officiate. Burial will be in Auburn Cemetery near Silex with military honors conducted by VFW Post 5553.