Obituary of Nina Mae Welch

Nina Mae (Johnson) Welch was born February 22nd, 1920, and departed this life on March 2nd, 2014, at the Table Rock Healthcare Facility in Kimberling City, Missouri, at the age of 94. She was born at home in Houston, Missouri, to Otto A. and Estella Mae (Mitchell) Johnson. Graduating from the Houston school system, she then attended college in Springfield, Missouri, and began teaching in one-room schools in the Licking, Missouri, area, where her family had moved. She met and married Cecil Robert Welch September 30th, 1939. When Cecil entered the Navy she moved to Long Beach, California, to be near him, where she worked in The Bank of America. Following the war, Cecil entered the VA Hospital suffering from tuberculosis and severe alcoholism, only to discharge himself bringing severe difficulties to their marriage. In desperation Nina went to a Free Methodist Church, received a "born again" experience and was determined to see Cecil find the Lord. Eventually they attended the Guiding Light Tabernacle Full Gospel Church resulting in Cecil being saved, filled with the Holy Spirit, delivered of alcoholism, healed and called into the ministry. Together they began traveling in evangelism holding revival meetings across the country. They became pastors of the Licking, Missouri, Assembly of God Church in the early 50's and saw great revival. From there they pastored in Kinsley, Kansas, and Grandview, Missouri, before going back onto the evangelistic field for 37 years. Nina was a faithful wife and companion throughout their ministry. She did return to the family farm to care for her aged mother for several years while Cecil traveled in ministry. As the wife of a pastor and evangelist, Nina was loved and cherished by all who knew her. Their retirement years were spent in the Cedar Creek and Forsyth, Missouri, area. Nina was preceded in death by her parents and five of her brothers: Dr. Mitchell Decatur, Otto A. Johnson Jr., James Cornelius, Clinton Lewis and George Charles. Surviving is her brother Robert Lee; nephews Mitchell Jr., Gary, James, Neil, Roger and Clint: Nieces Deborah, Janice, Emmy, Paula and Melody.