Floyd Charles Welch

Floyd Charles Welch was born in Stigler Oklahoma on December 2,1933, passing March 30, 2024, in Sonoma, California with his loving family.  Floyd attended local schools, graduating from Sonoma Valley High School. He then proudly served in the US Army stationed in Germany.  Shortly after returning to Sonoma, while appearing handsome in his uniform, Floyd met Betty Hunt. Floyd and Betty were married 67 years. They made their home in Sonoma Valley, where they raised three children, Debbie, Darrel, and Doretta. Floyd and Betty always enjoyed when friends and family would stop by for a visit.

In the early years of marriage Floyd would sometimes pilot a small plane, flying his beloved wife Betty to Vacaville where they would enjoy the most delicious strawberry sundaes at the Nut Tree. He worked at the Sonoma Plywood plant before beginning his career as an Electrician at Mare Island Naval Shipyard. He also drove a local commute bus for Poodle Bus lines to and from Mare Island, becoming somewhat of a local icon.

Floyd loved reading, the outdoors, traveling in their RV, meeting new people across the United States, hunting, fishing, camping, trap shooting, gardening, rooting for the 49ers and SF Giants, and his dogs. He enjoyed collecting special woods from their travels, making them into the most beautiful walking sticks. Some favorites woods, Diamond Willow from Alaska, and Montana, and Vine Curled sticks from Kentucky. These walking sticks were sought after by walking and hiking enthusiasts all over the country. He made the most beautiful of all for Betty, being the Vine Curled stick. 

Floyd bought a tractor while still in high school, paying for it with money he made from odd jobs. The tractor had a small disc so he could get into small gardens & vineyards, to continue his tractor jobs. His tractor also served as great fun when he would give any children in his life a tractor ride. 

Floyd always had projects of some sort, whether working in his shop, building his wood splitter, changing the oil in his vehicles, or waxing his vehicles one panel at a time.  Floyd enjoyed teaching his children and grandchildren how to do many things from baiting a fishhook and stacking a perfect pile of wood after cutting and splitting it, just to name a few. He was a man of many talents and interests. 

Floyd was a Charter member of the Moose Lodge and a longtime member of the Valley of the Moon Trap Club.

He is survived by his wife Betty, son Darrel (Dina), daughters Debbie, Doretta (Brian), grandsons, Dusty, Dylan, Tyler, Trevor, one great grandson Owen, and brother Ken. 

He is predeceased by sisters Ethyl, Neoma, Mary, and one brother Walter.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the local Veterans Administration or the Alzheimer’s Organization (www.alz.org).

A Celebration of Floyd’s life will take place Saturday, May 18, 2024, at the Valley of the Moon Trap Club at 11 a.m.  We encourage all friends to come and share your memories of Floyd.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Floyd Charles Welch, please visit our floral store.