Bridgewater biker dies in cager crash

Cecil Eugene Welcher, 64, died last Saturday when a kid in a cage made a left in front of the 1985 Yamaha Mr. Welcher rode.

Mr. Welcher's bike struck the passenger side of the 2007 Dodge Charger driven by a 17-year-old from Crimora, according to Virginia State  Police. He was westbound on Route 254 when the kid, eastbound, turned in front of him to make a left onto Route 608.

The driver told police he did not see Mr. Welcher's bike. The wreck occured at about 7 p.m.

Mr. Welcher, from Bridgewater, was rushed to August Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. The kid, who was not identified by police, was charged with failure to yield the right of way.

According to an obituary compiled by Johnson Funeral Service in Bridgewater, Mr. Welcher was born in Baltimore, on June 27, 1946, and was a son of Lorraine (Welcher) Thornton, of Craigsville. He worked as an equipment operator and was an avid fisherman, posting record catfish catches in 2008.

He served in the U.S. Air Force.

He is survived by his wife, Genieve (Rohrbaugh) Welcher, of Bridgewater, his mother, daughter Penny Welcher; two step sons Tony Rohrbaugh and Danny Rohrbaugh; three sisters, Mary Gregory, Carolyn Knight, Debbie Thornton; and a brother, Rickie Allen Thornton.

He is also survived by five grandchildren, and two great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his son, Cecil Eugene "Duke" Rohrbaugh.

A memorial service will be held at the Johnson Funeral Service Chapel in Bridgewater at 11:00 AM on Thursday, September 30, 2010 with Rev. James Kite officiating. Burial will follow at Oak Lawn Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Bridgewater Fire Department, 304 North Main St., Bridgewater, VA 22812 or Bridgewater Rescue Squad, PO Box 268, Bridgewater, VA 22812.