Lester Charles Welker, 90, of Woodland died Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2014 at his residence. Born Feb. 24, 1924 in Shiloh, he was the son of Loren M. and Frances (Clinger) Welker.
He was an owner/operator as a truck driver. He was a World War II U.S. Coast Guard veteran, serving aboard the USS Carson City as a gunner on a 20 M.M. in the South Pacific and the Aleutian Islands.
He received the World War II medal, American Campaign medal, Asiatic Pacific Campaign medal with two bronze stars, Philippine Presidential Unit Citation and Philippine Liberation Ribbon from participating in the Invasion of Leyte.
He was a member of the St. Francis Roman Catholic Church in Clearfield. He was a former member of the Clearfield VFW and the Clearfield LOOM.
On July 30, 1949 in Clearfield, he wed the former Norma Kaufman, who preceded him in death on Feb. 8, 1993. He was also preceded in death by a son, Mark Welker; four brothers, Loren M. Jr., David, Victor and Darrel; a sister, Eunice Welker; and a companion, Caroline Reader of Tyrone.
Surviving are four children, Eunice Finnigan and Craig Welker and his wife, Melody, both of Woodland, Larry Welker and his companion, Elaine Bowman of Clearfield and Tracy Welker of O’Fallon, Ill.
Also surviving are eight grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; one brother, William J. Welker of Leesburg, Fla.; and one sister, Patricia Hutchings of Philipsburg.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be said at 10 a.m. Saturday at the St. Francis Roman Catholic Church in Clearfield with Father Brandon Kleckner officiating. Burial will follow in the Calvary Cemetery in Clearfield.
Friends will be received from 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. and from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. Friday and from 9 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. Saturday at the Chester C. Chidboy Funeral Home Inc. of Clearfield.
Military honors will be accorded at the cemetery by members of the Clearfield Honor Guard.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to Clearfield Hospice, P.O. Box 992, Clearfield, PA 16830.
Online condolences may be made to the family at www.chidboyfuneralhome.com.
The Chester C. Chidboy Funeral Home Inc. of Clearfield is in charge of the arrangements.
