Mr. James Lewis Welch, Sr., age 85, of Covington, Virginia, died Friday, June 12, 2026 at his residence. He was the husband of the late Uldine Martin Welch.

Mr. Welch was born July 7, 1940 in Covington, the son of the late Floyd Lewis Welch and Virginia Humphries Welch.

He was a lifetime resident of this community.

James had been employed as a team leader on #8 paper machine by Westvaco, Inc for a number of years and also worked as a security guard at LewisGale Hospital-Alleghany, Low Moor. In his spare time, he enjoyed doing carpentry, tinkering with automobiles and doing any job that required working with his hands.

Mr. Welch is survived by a daughter, Jacqueline Dressler and husband, Hubert of Covington; a son, Jody Layne Welch and wife, Melissa of Covington; one granddaughter, Alexandra Craft and husband, Colton; three great grandchildren, Sophia Craft, Lilly Wood and James Fridley; and a brother, Michael A. Welch and wife, Debbie of Covington.

In addition to his parents and wife, Mr. Welch was preceded in death by a son, James Lewis Welch, Jr. and a sister, Virginia Snook Byers.

A funeral service will be conducted at 2:00 p.m.. Wednesday, June 17, 2026, from the chapel of Loving Funeral Home with Rev. Mike Warren officiating. Interment will follow in Cedar Hill Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be selected from family and friends attending the service. The family will receive friends on Wednesday afternoon from 12:30 p.m. until time of service at Loving Funeral Home.

Arrangement are being handled by Loving Funeral Home; to view Mr. Welch's memorial tribute page, please visit www.lovingfuneralhome1913.com.