LOWELL – Walter “Babe” R. Welcome, 81, a resident of Dracut, died Thursday May 17th at Saints Medical Center in Lowell. He was the beloved husband of Eleanor E. (Hamel) Welcome to whom he was married for fifty-nine years.
Mr. Welcome was born in Lowell on January 9, 1926, the son of the late Walter Augustus and Alice (Brodeur) Welcome. He was educated in Lowell schools and graduated from Lowell High School.
Mr. Welcome served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. He worked as a truck driver for the Table Talk Pie Company in Lawrence for 30 years. He then worked for the Lowell Police Department for 11 years. He also worked as a bartender at several local establishments including the Old Worthen in Lowell. Mr. Welcome enjoyed boxing during his time in the Army and also enjoyed playing football, having played for several semi-professional teams. He was also a member of the VFW Post 662 in Lowell. He was also a member of the Teamsters Union.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by four sons Barry Welcome and his wife Lou of Westford, MA Raymond Welcome of Gloucester, MA Mark Welcome of Lowell, MA and Scott Welcome and his wife Cristina of Lawrence, MA; three daughters Bonnie Burrows and her husband Brian of Lowell, MA Cheryl Welcome of Lowell, MA and Michelle Welcome of Worcester, MA; a brother Robert Welcome of Rockport, MA; a sister Arlene Murphy of Dracut, MA; and six grandchildren.
Friends may call at the DRACUT FUNERAL HOME, 2159 Lakeview Ave, Dracut on Sunday from 2 until 6 PM. His funeral will be held from the funeral home on Monday at 9AM followed by his Funeral Mass to be celebrated at 10AM in St. Mary Magdalen Church, Dracut. Burial in Westlawn II Cemetery, Lowell. Memorial contributions may be made in his name to the Alzheimer’s Association, Massachusetts Chapter, 311 Arsenal Street, Watertown, MA 02472.