Kenneth C. Welch

Kenneth C. Welch, age 76, of Spanish Fork, Utah passed away peacefully on Friday, June 15, 2018 surrounded by his children and his loving wife Linda. Kenneth was the third child born to Lowell and Estelle on November 10, 1941 in McFarland, California.

Born after the great depression his family had taken an old boxcar and turned it into an apartment. His father started a small cement company and took his boys with him to learn some traits along the way.

Ken bought a car, worked on it and got it road ready before he could even drive it. When he put his mind to something he got it done! Later in life he found himself working in heating and air conditioning for large commercial buildings, and did so for many years. Which lead him to Utah years later.

Rewind just a little and that's where he met the love of his life, Linda. The two met at Rodeway Bowling Alley and have been married for 30 years come July 1st. Linda approached Ken and asked him to dance. His son, Ken Jr., had to give him a nudge and that nudge lasted the two a lifetime. Throughout the years the two loved to travel to California Mission's, take weekend trips to the coast and go out dancing.

After retiring at the age 62, he picked up the art of wood making and gardening. He built many things for himself including his shop, deck and furniture. He would sell his wood art in local shops, would gift elaborate baby swings, toy boxes and Barbie houses to family and friends. When winter hit and the glue would not dry he would find himself bored being cooped up in the house. That is when Linda lovingly, logged in to the computer using his name and took all the required test. She then informed Ken that an interview had be set up for him at Home Depot! He loved that part-time job, that lasted about five years. Ken loved to outdo the neighbors when it came to decorating for Christmas! Neighbors affectionately calling them "the tree people" because he had planted so many around his house. The day started and ended with his western movies. John Wayne lived on the TV in the front room. If he wasn't watching tv, or making something, then you would find him reading with a cup of coffee in his hand.

A neighborhood kid told Linda, that "Ken, would come check the house out when their parents were gone and when they called him scared about hearing noises in the house. Ken would grab a flashlight and go room by room making sure they were safe!" Ken's huge heart in that stubborn looking body couldn't fool anyone. The grandkids and neighbor kids were always knocking on the door or crawling on his lap. He was a true protector.

He loved his family very much. He had Sunday evening phone calls with his brother's Ed and Carl. Which were cut down as Christ called them one by one to his Kingdom. Being hours apart the family did a lot of phone video chats and phone calls. Summers were full of grandkids and children dropping in and out to visit.

Ken was very stubborn like John Wayne! When cutting into his finger while playing with wood he would self bandage with duct tape.. That's right DUCT TAPE. That was his go to band aide. He had his grandkids into believing if you drank his coffee you would grow chest hair. He had a special trick of making his spoons stand straight in his coffee cup. His tall stature and strong arms would lift his grandkids off the ground as the would be giggling. He loved to tickle and squeeze your hand till you begged him to stop. He talked like Daffey Duck and nagged them until Linda told him to knock it off. If you asked him what his top three favorite things in life were he would tell you, God, My girls (KoKo and Nickee) dogs and Linda whom he affectionately called "BRAT".

Awaiting him in Heaven are his brothers, Ed and Carl and his parents, Lowell and Estelle. A special child by the name of Meko; whom may or may not have four legs and Granddaughter, Kristie Harris.

He leaves behind siblings Doris, Gwenn and Mark. His Loving wife, Linda; son, Ken Jr. and wife Andrea; his grandson, Josh, of Colorado; Daughter, Dina and Glenn; grandchildren, Sean, Jamie (Lonnie), Tristan and Felicity; great-grandchildren Layla, Myla and Nu Faith, of California; daughter, Shelly and husband Bob; grandsons, Dylan and Taylor, of Arizona.

A Memorial will be in Utah Saturday, June 23, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. at Hope Baptist Church 160 S. Main Street, Payson, Utah. An additional memorial will be held in Bakersfield, California in September the time and date coming soon.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.hillcrestmemorial.com for the Welch family.