Zula Margaret Claunch

ZULA MARGARET CLAUNCH, well-known resident of the Oakland Community and a well-known artist, writer and newspaper columnist before her retirement, died Wednesday, April 2, 2008, at the National Healthcare Center in Somerville where she had been a resident since May of 2006. She was 89 years of age and died following an extended illness.
Funeral services for Mrs. Claunch were conducted at 10 A.M. Friday April 4th at the Peebles Main Funeral Chapel in Somerville with Mrs. Claunch's son, Rev. Howard Welch, resident of the Cumberland Plateau, TN, officiating. He was assisted by Rev. Carl Meyer, pastor of the Oakland First Baptist Church. Special remarks were given by her daughter and granddaughter, Debbie Hailey and Paula Welch-Strange. Interment followed in the Fayette County Memorial Park Cemetery on Hwy. 64 at Oakland. Arrangements were provided by Peebles Fayette County Funeral Home - Main Chapel of Somerville.
Mrs. Claunch was born April 21, 1918, in Huntsville, Arkansas, the daughter of the late Henry Claude Rhodes and the late Esther Lee Minor Rhodes. Mrs. Claunch received her education in the public school system of Arkansas and moved with her parents to Oklahoma where she was a graduate of the Spiro, Oklahoma High School. Mrs. Claunch was married August 11, 1961, to Julian F. "Jude" Claunch, well-known resident of Oakland who served as Manager of the Cargill Corporation in Oakland before his retirement. Mr. Claunch preceded his wife in death Novmeber 27, 2007.
Mrs. Claunch was a faithful and devoted member of the Oakland First Baptist Church where she served as a longtime Sunday School Teacher for the "Willing Workers" Class as long as her health permitted. She was a homemaker and throughout her life, enjoyed art and writing. Mrs. Claunch was responsible for creating the Fayette County Flag design that continues to be in use today.
She was an avid flower gardener and served as a columnist for the area newspapers for a number of years before her retirement. She had been a resident of Fayette County since 1967 and prior to that time had lived in Potoe, Oklahoma where she served as an Industrial Nurse.
Mrs. Claunch is survived by her children, Deborah Hailey of Oakland, Rev. Howard J. Welch of Cumberland Plateau, TN; 6 grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great-grandchildren.
Family and friends were honored to serve as casketbearers and the family request that memorials be directed to the Building Fund of the Oakland First Baptist Church, 8095 Hwy. 64, Oakland, TN 38060.