Faithful husband, devoted father, dedicated friend, and compassionate physician, Charles Clark Welling, M.D., passed away on October 8, 1994, while doing that which he loved most-spending time with his life-long companion, Erma June Welling, and his children, while on vacation in San Francisco.
He leaves us with heavy, aching hearts - and we long for his loving and comforting embrace. We trust and hope that other arms now comfort him.Clark was born July 15, 1926 in Logan, Utah to Charles and Julia Welling. He was raised in Salt Lake City. He was in the U.S. Navy as a medical corpsman during World War II. He served an LDS mission in Mexico (1947-49), and was one of the first missionaries to be assigned to the country of Guatemala. He returned home to Utah where he met, and subsequently married, his college sweetheart and eternal companion, the former Erma June Gammell, August 5, 1953 in the Salt Lake City Temple. He was graduated from the University of Utah in 1951. He and Mom completed together his medical education at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in 1955 and subsequently completed an internship at Highland Alameda County Hospital, followed by a year of General Surgery Residency at Southern Pacific Hospital. He later completed a Pediatric Residency at the University of Utah (1962). He was a devoted Pediatrician for 38 years in the Salt Lake City area.
He was a dedicated member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and willingly served in many positions.
He was honored by the medical community this year by being elected president of the Salt Lake County Medical Society; his tenure was to expire in November. In the past, he has served as medical staff president of Primary Children's Hospital, president of the Intermountain Pediatric Society, chairman of the Department of Pediatrics of LDS Hospital, chairman of the Department of Pediatrics at Primary Children's Hospital, chairman of the Utah Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, and clinical professor of the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Utah School of Medicine.
His life was his family. Together with Erma June, he raised three sons and a daughter, Eric C. Welling, M.D. (Kathy McDermott), Salt Lake City; Blake G. Welling, M.D. (Lisa LaBelle), Fairfield, Calif.; Brad G. Welling, J.D., Washington D.C.; and Jill Welling Robinson (Eric Robinson J.D.), Salt Lake City. His happiness came from spending time with his family and he unselfishly gave us much of it.
He is preceded in death by his parents. Surviving family include his wife and children; sister, Virginia Welling Stringham (Stuart); and six
grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the LDS Hospital Newborn Intensive Care Unit, a place he loved to work. Donations will be used to enhance the medical library for Pediatric Residents studying the art of Medicine. He will be lovingly remembered by his family for his quick wit, infectious laugh, happy whistle, tender words, and Christ-like example. His many tender acts of kindness and loving smile will support us. He was the anchor of our family.
"We'll love you always, Dad, and we know that you love us!"
Viewing will be held Friday, October 14, 6-8 p.m. at Larkin Mortuary, 260 East So. Temple, Salt Lake City. Funeral services will be Saturday, October 15, 1 p.m. at the Bountiful Canyon Park Ward Chapel, 1190 East Bountiful Hills Dr., where friends may call 11:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m. Burial, Lakeview Memorial
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