Lewis Welch Jr.

Lewis Welch, Jr., 83 of Knoxville, Tennessee went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, February 4, 2025.

Lewis was a member of Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church and retired from Greyhound Bus Lines.  He was an Army Veteran of the Vietnam War and served as a paratrooper in the 101st Airborne Division.  He was also a Featherweight Boxing Champion with a 43 and 1 record in Germany.

He was preceded in death by his parents Lewis Welch, Sr., and Annie Greenwood-Welch; his former wife, Katrina Ray-Welch; his brothers James Welch and Charlie Welch; and step-son Lamar Slay.

Lewis was an entrepreneur who organized and managed various businesses in the Knoxville area.  His hobbies included fishing, basketball, checkers, and dominos.

He leaves to mourn his passing his loving and devoted wife Karen Slay-Welch; his loving and devoted brother George (Olga) Welch); his loving mother-in-law Betty Slay; his children Lewis Welch III, Maurice Donta Welch, Tiara Welch, and Edward Welch; his Step-children Arsola Clark-Johnson, Lois Clark-Jones, Karen Sutton, and Tabithia Williams; and a host of grandchildren, great grandchildren, cousins, nephews, nieces, family and friends, including his Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church family.

A celebration of life will be held Tuesday, February 11, 2025, at Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church.  The family will receive friends from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., with the funeral service to immediately follow.

Entombment will be held at the Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery on Governor Sevier Highway at 12:30 p.m.

Final arrangements entrusted to Jarnigan & Son Mortuary.