Charles Ernest Welsh

The Honorable Charles E. Welsh passed away in Smyrna, Georgia, on July 13, 2019. Judge Welsh, a Shreveport, Louisiana, native, had retired to the Atlanta area with his beloved wife in 1999. Judge Welsh was a graduate of Jesuit High School, Shreveport, La; Loyola University, New Orleans, and received his Master’s in Education from Notre Dame University, South Bend, Ind. He was a veteran of the Korean Conflict serving as a First Lieutenant in the U.S. Military Police Corp. He returned to New Orleans and received his Juris Doctorate from Loyola Law School in 1961. After graduation, the Honorable Herbert William Christenberry of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana asked him to serve as his law clerk. In 1962, Robert Kennedy appointed him to be Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Louisiana in Shreveport. Judge Welsh was also City Attorney for Bossier City, La. and an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Louisiana. Mr. Welsh retired but was asked to return to service as Senior Trial Attorney for the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in New Orleans. After moving to Georgia, he was appointed to serve as a Magistrate Judge for Cherokee County, Georgia. Judge Welsh is preceded in death by his parents, John Robert and Marcella Welsh; his loving wife of 61 years, Kaye Frances Trombetta Welsh; daughter, Erin Charles Welsh; brother, Father John R. Welsh, SJ; and sisters Frances Welsh Hellinghausen and Sr. Marietta Welsh, MSN. He is survived by his daughters, Marion K. Welsh and Kelli A. Welsh of Smyrna, Georgia , and Karol Welsh Heath of Dallas, Texas. Six grandchildren: Steven Heath (Chelsea), Houston, Texas; Michael Heath, Austin, Texas; Patrick Coerver, Austin, Texas; Katie Coerver Alhatllan (Mishall) Smyrna, Georgia; Joe Heath and Kelli Heath of Dallas, Texas. He is also survived by his sisters, Patricia Whelan, Bellevue, Ill; Shirley Cashore, Spring, Texas; and Kathleen (Jim) Schwartz, Montgomery, Texas; sister-in-law, Sara Brocato, Shreveport, Louisiana and brother-in-law, Paul Hellinghausen of Houston, Texas. He leaves behind many nieces, nephews and grandnieces and nephew Judge Welsh was a devoted husband, loving father, grandfather and devout Catholic. He was a founding member of St. Jude’s Catholic Church in Bossier City, La. Dad enjoyed travelling with his wife and daughters in the U.S. and abroad, particularly Italy. He was a Renaissance man accomplishing anything he committed his time and energy. An avid reader, he could discuss law, art, architecture, opera, and theology as well as repair a car or landscape his yard. There was nothing Dad couldn’t fix! He was an ardent golfer and made many friends on the links. The family would like to thank Encompass Health Care Nurses Jerry, Theresa and Shirley; Certified Nurse Assistant’s Wanda, Katasha, and Edina. We are also grateful for the love and care provided by his primary caregivers, Tabby Dube and Lonna Miles, RN. A Funeral Mass celebrating his life and love of Christ will be held at 9:30AM on August 10, 2019 at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Smyrna, Ga. In lieu of flowers, friends may honor Judge Welsh through gifts to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, or Catholic Legal Immigration Network.