Mr. Benny Eugene "Hank" Welch Jr.

It is with deep sorrow that Mrs. Kathryn Latimer Welch announces the death of her beloved husband, Benny Eugene "Hank" Welch, Jr., 73. Mr. Welch entered into eternal rest on Wednesday, August 10, 2022, at McCoy Nursing Home after a long battle with Alzheimer's Disease. The Directors of Hancock-Elmore-Hill Funeral Home are caring for the family. A graveside funeral service with military honors will be held at 2:30 on Sunday, August 14, 2022, in the Bishopville Presbyterian Church Cemetery, with The Rev. Chris Parnell officiating. The family will receive friends in the Fellowship Hall immediately following the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in his honor to Bishopville Presbyterian Church, PO Box 66, Bishopville, SC 29010, or B.A.R.K. (Bishopville Animal Rescue Krew) 158 Johnson Pond Road, Bishopville, SC 29010. Mr. Welch was born on May 8, 1949, in Lee County, SC, and is the son of Georgia Hopkins Welch and the late Benny E. Welch, Sr. He joined Harmony Baptist Church and was baptized as a teenager. He attended Bishopville Presbyterian Church with his family. He was a 1967 graduate of Bishopville High School where he played football and was an outstanding baseball pitcher and second baseman. He is one of a few Dragons to pitch a no-hitter game. He played two seasons with the Hartsville American Legion team and several summers with the Lydia Red Socks. Mr. Welch was a U. S. Army Veteran, having served as an office clerk for his unit in Frankfort, Germany. He worked for Kendall in Bethune prior to serving in the Army. He later worked at Reaves Brothers and Bishopville Tire Company. In 1991, he became the owner of the Bethune Country Club. He and his wife operated the golf course and the seafood restaurant. There he enjoyed meeting new people and playing golf with his many friends. In 1980, Mr. Welch coached the Robert E. Lee Cavaliers Baseball Team to a winning record of 14-6. During this season, he was able to coach the son of his former baseball coach, Max DuBose. He also coached both of his sons in the Bishopville Dixie Youth Baseball League. The former People's Bank record of 21-0 remains the best record in the Bishopville league. Growing up fishing with his granddaddy, Mr. Welch learned all of the tricks to successful fishing. Those skills were passed on to his son, Benny, who became a great fisherman, and who was finally able to out-fish his dad. They both knew where every catalpa worm tree grew in Lee County. Deer hunting was a favorite sport Mr. Welch enjoyed with his friends and his sons, but one of his greatest loves was watching his grandchildren participate in sports. He followed them to every game until Alzheimer's kept him from going. All of his grandchildren will always have special memories of their Gramps. He is survived by his loving wife of 52 years, Kathryn Latimer Welch; sons, Benny E. (Wendy) Welch III, Stephen Latimer (Amanda) Welch; brother, Charles (Charlene) Welch. He was blessed with five wonderful grandchildren, Caroline, Brooke, Conner, Peyton, and Mia. He was also survived by his best friend, Tommy (Smokie) Gainey; sister-in-law, Shirley Boykin; uncle, Leon McCoy; aunts, Carolyn Smith and Bea Hopkins. He leaves behind several nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his father, Benny E. Welch, Sr.; sister, Brenda Welch Gillespie; grandparents, Bertha and Gene Welch, Ollie and Pearl Hopkins.

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Mr. Benny Eugene "Hank" Welch Jr.

May 8, 1949 - August 11, 2022