Brenda Joyce Kraft, 76, of Charleston, WV, passed away Sunday, February 22, 2026, at CAMC Memorial Hospital after a long illness.

She was born on November 17, 1949, in Trenton, MI, to parents Willie and Arminta (Mobley) Welch. Brenda was a graduate of Kennedy High School, Class of 1968, in Taylor, MI, and earned a bachelor of science degree in accounting from Wayne County Community College District in Detroit, MI.  While attending college classes, she was employed at Big Boys Restaurant, where she remained a loyal employee for approximately 6 years. Soon after leaving Big Boys, she worked for a catering company who prepared meals for first class passengers at Northwest Airlines. In 2007, Brenda moved to Charleston to be near her family.

She was preceded in death by her loving parents “Bill” and “Minnie” Welch, and granddog, Maggie.

Brenda is survived by her daughter, Dorinda Kraft of Charleston; siblings, Linda Widner of Belleville, MI, Ronald Welch of Flat Tock, MI, Janet Tamm of Cross Lanes, WV, Sandra York of Monroe, MI, and Rhonda Jackson of Flat Rock; eight nieces and nephews; many great-nieces and nephews, and her granddog, Dottie.

Brenda enjoyed spending time working crossword puzzles and being outdoors, whether she was mowing the grass, weedeating, cooking on the barbeque grill or camping. She greatly enjoyed spending time with her family, especially at Portage Lake in Michigan. When Brenda was a child, her parents would take Brenda and her siblings to this lake every weekend possible. Brenda kept this tradition by taking her daughter and her daughter-by-choice to the same lake at every opportunity.

A celebration of Life service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 28, 2026, in Cross Lanes, WV. Please contact a family member for details.

Brenda will be interred in Michigan Memorial Park Cemetery in Flat Rock, MI, at a later date.

Condolences may be sent to his family at www.barlowbonsall.com.

ow Bonsall Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements.