Leslie Lee Welker, 87, of Cottage Hills, formerly of East Alton, died at 7:50 a.m. Wednesday, November 20, 2013, at Bethalto Care Center in Bethalto.

Mr. Welker was born May 8, 1926 in Millersville, Missouri, the son of George and Amanda (Bryan) Welker. He first married Beatrice N. Brown on March 8, 1946 in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. She preceded him in death on May 14, 2002. He later married Beulah M. (Berrong) Staats on May 8, 2010 in Roxana. Mr. Welker worked at Ford Motor Company, Inc. in Alton for 32 years, retiring in 1980. He loved fishing, baseball, and football. He also loved the Lord and reading the KJV Bible, and taught various Sunday School classes for forty years. Mr. Welker was a member of First Baptist Church in Roxana. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy, where he served during World War II.

Surviving are his wife, Beulah; one son, Jeffrey (wife, Cindy) Welker of O'Fallon; one daughter, Leslie (husband, Dana) Rigsbey of Wood River; one step-son, DeWayne (wife, Carla) Staats of Clearwater Beach, Florida; two step-daughters, Rita (husband, Philip) Frohne of Hazelwood, Missouri, and Sheila (husband, Steve) Avery of Milton, Georgia; five grandchildren; seven step-grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; eight step-great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one granddaughter, Lori Rigsbey; seven sisters, Sadie Welker, Ella Niswonger, Connie Green, Dessie Newell, Cloa Stevens, Jean Schreiner, and Ollie Marie Hager; one half-sister, Clara Gagnepain; four brothers, Otis Welker, Clarence Welker, Fred Welker, and Lyman Welker; and three half-brothers, William Welker, Edward Welker, and Charles Chester Hunter.

Funeral services will be held at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, November 23, 2013, at Pitchford Funeral Home in Wood River. Rev. Clyde Myers and Rev. Roy Gibbs will officiate, with burial to follow at Rose Lawn Memory Gardens in Bethalto.

Visitation will be held from 9 until 11:30 a.m. Saturday, November 23, 2013, in the funeral home.