Charles Frederick Welch

Charles Frederick Welch of Augusta, Georgia entered into rest on August 10th, 2023. Born on March 12,1952 in Springfield, Ohio to Charles Leroy Welch and Carolyn Plant, he was a loving brother to his siblings Michael Welch, Robert Mason, and Peggy Beehner. After his father’s death, Fred relocated to and grew up in Seminole County, Florida. He attended Carson-Newman University before serving with distinction in the US Army from 1975 to 1979, where he was awarded Noncommissioned Officer of the Year for 1978. Following his time in the military, Fred raised three boys with his then-spouse and lifelong friend, Andrea Faulk, while serving his community with pride as a police officer. During this time, Fred continued his education, further obtaining two master’s degrees. He is a former Chief of Police for the cities of Folly Beach and Mauldin, SC, respectively. Later in his career, Fred worked in public education for Richmond County, GA as a middle and high school teacher of economics and US History. He maintained a lifelong passion for teaching and mentoring others inside and outside of the classroom, most significantly with his beloved Hephzibah High School Girls soccer team. His joys in life were spending time with his dogs, practicing with his firearms at the range several times a week, playing trivia, cheering for the University of South Carolina Gamecocks, and appreciating watermelon and barbecue in all of its forms. However, his greatest love was always the time spent in the company of his family, children and grandchildren.

Fred is predeceased by his spouse, Debra Welch, a fellow teacher at Hephzibah High School who passed in December 2021. He is survived by his eldest son, Christopher Scott Welch, and his partner Julie Kneuker, of Augusta, GA; his middle son, Zachary Andrew Welch, and his wife, Kelly Wang, of Sarasota, FL; and his youngest son, Joshua Charles Welch, of Elizabethton, TN. He is also survived by his beloved grandchildren, Leonard Welch and Phoebe Frances Welch, along with his dear siblings Michael, Robert, and Peggy.

In accordance with his last wishes, Fred’s final resting place will be in Sanford, Florida at his mother’s side, in a private memorial service to be held at a later time.

In remembrance of his life, the family gratefully requests that any charitable donations be made to the Humane Society of the United States, the American Rescue Dog Association, or the Tunnel to Towers Foundation.