By Staff
NILES – Fern R. Welch, 75, of Lewis Drive, Niles, died at 1:52 p.m. Monday, June 23, 2008, at her home, following an extended illness.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Friday, June 27, at Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, with Pastor Terry D. White of Beacon Baptist Church in Niles officiating.
The family will receive friends and relatives at the funeral home beginning at 1 p.m. Friday.
She was born on Sept. 12, 1932, in Dowagiac, to Delbert and Mary (Rife) Anders. She lived in this area all of her lifetime.
In 2002, she retired after 15 years of service for the South Bend Tribune.
She had previously been employed at the Mushroom Farm in Niles.
On March 12, 1964, in Saint Joseph, she married Omer A. Welch, who survives.
Additional surviving family include her children, Henry (Delores) Clendenin, Marlene Brandon, Marshall Clendenin and Stan Clendenin, all of Dowagiac; Danny Clendenin and Cindy (Rick) Coger, all of Niles; 14 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and brothers and sisters, Melvin Anders, Marshall Anders, Victor Anders, Delbert Anders, Patricia Sibley, Peggy Anders and Kathy Watson, all of Dowagiac.
She was preceded in death by a sister, Charlotte Moore.
Contributions may be made to the donor's choice.