James F. Welch Obituary
James (Jim) Welch, 94, of Wilmington, NC, (formerly of Salt Lake City, UT and Norwalk, CT) was called to Heaven on June 19, 2023. Jim was born on August 24, 1928 in Cambridge, Massachusetts to Dennis M and Lillian G Welch. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Lyne, his son Dennis and his sister Marie Barry.
Jim is survived by his children, daughter Kathy Welch of Wilmington, NC; sons, Rick Welch (Penny) of Harwinton, CT; Kevin Welch (Carla) of Norwalk, CT; Michael Welch of Pompano Beach, FL; Stephen "Zip" Welch of Norwalk, CT; and daughter in law, Bonnie Welch of CT; his 12 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
Jim served his Country in the US Marine Corps as a Cpl, Amphibious Recon Company, Second Marine Division at the close of World War II and attended the US Naval Academy as a Midshipman in Annapolis Maryland.
Utilizing the GI Bill from his military service, Jim graduated from Boston College in 1953 with a degree in accounting. Jim also taught at Union College in Schenectady NY at the graduate and undergraduate levels.
Shortly after graduation, Jim and Lyne were married in Somerville, Mass on June 20, 1953. Jim and Lyne moved to Schenectady, NY where he began his career in management with General Electric. After 14 years with GE Jim held increasingly responsible leadership positions at various senior management levels with Polaroid, American Airlines, and Chemical Bank, culminating as Senior Vice President, American Express Travelers Cheque Operations Center in Salt Lake City, UT where he retired after 12 years in 1992. During his time with American Express in Salt Lake City, Jim played a prominent role in the community serving on numerous boards and charities and received many awards for that service.
Jim was an avid sports enthusiast with a passion for hockey, golf, and baseball. He loved the various Boston sports teams and his NY Football Giants. Jim played hockey at Boston College as well as baseball at the US Naval Academy. Jim's love of sports was passed on to his children who followed in his footsteps. Jim was a hockey coach and a referee from youth to collegiate level. Jim was integral in the Formation of the Mid-Fairfield Youth Hockey Association where he coached his sons and many others. Jim had a passion for golf which led him to play many of the world's most famous courses. He was proud of his ability to "shoot his age" while he was in his 70's and performed that feat often.
After retiring, Jim was ordained as a Permanent Deacon in the Catholic Church on November 19, 2000 for the Diocese of Raleigh, NC and served at St. Therese Parish and St. Mark Catholic Church in Wilmington, NC.
Jim will be remembered for his sharp financial mind, his love and commitment to the sports he loved, especially golf and hockey, his love of cruising and traveling the world with his wife, and his lifelong devotion to his Catholic faith.
Jim was blessed with a long successful life filled with many adventures and once-in-a-lifetime opportunities, a marriage of over 67 years to his devoted wife Lyne, 6 children who inherited his love of sports and benefited from the opportunities his success and hard work provided, grandchildren and great grandchildren to enjoy in his retirement years, and many friends locally, across the country, and around the world. He was loved by his family and will be greatly missed.
A Funeral mass will be held Saturday June 24, 2023 at St. Jerome's Catholic Church in Norwalk, CT at 11:00am followed by full military honors at St. John Cemetery 223 Richards Ave. Norwalk, CT. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Toys for Tots Foundation and/or the Tunnels for Towers charities, which Jim supported.
