Albert Welton

A.L. (Al ) Welton was born in Franklin, Penn., on Feb. 19, 1918, to Albert L. and Louise Welton. He died Aug. 22, 2012, at age 94. Al was one of six siblings. He joined a brother, Richard Donald, and was followed by Charles LeRoy, Eleanor, Margaret & Dorothy. Al's family nicknamed him "Bud." His childhood years were spent in and around Franklin, Pa., where he and Dick helped their dad rescue Roy, age 2 or 3, from drowning when he fell over the creek bank. When Al was about 9, the family moved to Denver. When he was 12, they bought "The Hat Creek Ranch" on Pass Creek and moved there in February 1930. The three boys helped their dad with ranch work. At one time they bought and sold horses, and as soon as the boys were old enough, they "broke" the saddle horses to sell. Their dad broke and trained the workhorses. The boys also rounded up mustangs with no brand. They sold some of the horses they raised and trained to the United States Cavalry, and also sold some beautiful matching teams. When Al was 14, he went to Hanna for his freshman year of high school, and boarded there. His sophomore through senior years, Al attended school in Rawlins. He worked for his board and room at McNiff's Dairy. He would get up at 3 a.m. to milk cows before school, and milk again after school, often getting to bed about midnight. He said he was so tired, he would often prop a book in front of him, hiding his face, and go to sleep during study hall. About 1938, Genevieve Allen became the teacher at the one-room schoolhouse and taught Al's sisters and some other children. Al and Gen didn't know each other previously, although they grew up only about 3-1/2 miles apart across the hills. When Al and Genevieve began dating, Dick began seeing Gen's sister, Blanche Allen, and they double-dated. Al and Gen were married Oct. 8, 1939, in a double wedding in Rawlins, with Al's brother Dick and Gen's sister, Blanche. Then the two couples went on a double honeymoon. Laureen (Renie) was born in September of 1940 while they were still on The Hat Ranch. Gary joined the little family in May of 1944. In 1954, a major milestone took place. Al and Gen made a decision to make Jesus Christ their Lord and Savior. This decision wonderfully changed their lives, and the whole family. Friendship with Christ and getting to know God's Word gave new direction and purpose. They began attending Trinity Assembly in Rawlins at about that time, and continued there until they transferred their membership to Platte Valley Christian Center in Saratoga. Al was a board member at both churches, and was awarded a Board Member Emeritus from PVCC. Al was also on the Board at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Okla., which two of his grandsons later attended, and was a member at Old Baldy Club for a few years. In December 2007, Al fell and got some compression fractures in his back. Gen could no longer care for him, so he went into the hospital, and then to Valley View Manor to live out his days. Gen and Renie took turns feeding him his meals there, and Gen would stay with him for his nap until she had her own hospitalization and passed away on March 10, 2010. Al is survived by his children Laureen "Renie" (Everett) Grubb, Gary (Carolyn) Welton, former daughter-in-law, Judy Welton (Erik Nelson); grandchildren, Rory (Nohemi) Grubb, Roxy (Jason) McManus, Lance (Carly) Grubb, Brandon (Tracy) Welton, Brady (Dani) Welton; great- grandchildren, Danelle (Stephen) Fox, David (Elizabeth) McManus, Adria, Joseph, Sophia, Haley and Matthew Grubb, Hayden, Reese, Devin and Nelson Welton and Alyssa Clegg; great-great-grandchildren Elijah and Elliana Fox, and Everett McManus. Al is survived by his sister Margaret (Johnny) Whitehead of Sun City, Ariz.; his nieces and nephews Scarlet Welton, Linda Welton Dungan, Marsha Welton (Bill) Drake, Ron Alan, and Tricia Hatley, Steve (Robin) and Randy (Nancy) Whitehead, Shannon Whitehead (Dale) Gunderson, Laurie Funk Wathen, Juli Busenbark (Garth) Nicholas and Larry (Linda) Armstrong. Al was preceded in death by his wife Genevieve Allen Welton, his parents, Albert and Louise Welton, and his siblings, Richard "Dick" (and Blanche) Welton, Roy (and Helen) Welton, Eleanor Welton Dundin, Dorothy Welton Busenbark; nephew Charles Hatley; niece Connie Funk (Dennis) Meek; and a great-nephew Fallen Warrior SFC David L. McDowell.

Service

Monday, August 27, 2012 11:00am

Platte Valley Christian Center

111 7th Street

SARATOGA, WY 82331

Interment