Joseph A. Welch
... WWII Veteran; St. William's Parish; 92
TEWKSBURY - Joseph A. Welch, age 92, a WWII Army Air Force Veteran and communicant of St. William's Church, died Wednesday evening, September 12, at his home in Tewksbury after a brief illness. He was the husband of Irma A. (Salvi) Welch, with whom he had celebrated a 45th wedding anniversary this past October 21st.
He was born in Richmond, VA, on July 5, 1915, one of seven children of the late William and Florence (Moran) Welch. He was raised in Somerville, MA, and graduated Somerville High School with the Class of 1934. He had lived in Tewksbury since 1966.
He enlisted into the U.S. Army Air Force at Fort Devens in 1942, and was discharged in 1945 as a Sergeant in the 902nd Air Force Base Unit. He served in the A.A.F. as an airplane mechanic.
He was employed as a shipper at several area companies, most notably Gates Rubber Company in Waltham.
Mr. Welch was a devoted member of St. William's Parish community, and was described as having devoted his life to his wife and family.
Besides his wife, he is survived by three sons and a daughter-in-law, Michael J. and his wife Judith (Hoffman) Welch of Natick, John R. Welch and Joseph P. Welch, both of Tewksbury; two beloved grandsons, Derek and Andrew Welch both of Natick; a sister, Helen Noviello of Arlington; his sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Mary Welch of No. Conway, NH, Angelina Santoro and G. Robert Salvi, both of Tewksbury, Irene and William Jones of Saugus; and many nieces and nephews.
He was also brother of the late Francis Welch, William Welch, Edmund Welch, Frederick Welch, and Agnes Weyland.
His Funeral Mass was celebrated Monday, Sept. 17. Burial was at Tewksbury Cemetery. Memorials to the Merrimack Valley VNA Hospice, 360 Merrimack St, Bldg. 9, Lawrence, MA 01843, will be appreciated.