Obituary for Leroy Welch

Leroy Welch

(July 28, 1925 – January 24, 2016)

Leroy Edwin Welch, age 90 and a lifelong resident of Ponca City, died Sunday morning, January 24th at Alliance Health in Ponca City.

He was born in Ponca City on July 28th , 1925 to local contractor Nelson Herbert “Ted” Welch and Eulalia Ida Pennock Welch. Leroy attended local schools, graduating from Ponca City Senior High in 1943. Upon graduation from high school he enlisted in the United States Navy, went through basic training in San Diego and subsequently stationed at Norman, Oklahoma and Hutchinson, Kansas, where he served as an aviation machinist mate, working on B-24 liberty bombers.

After discharge from the Navy in 1946, Leroy attended Northern Oklahoma Junior College, then began employment with his father and brothers at Welch Masonry Construction Company which had been founded by his grandfather in 1893. He became a journeyman mason and masonry contractor. After his father’s retirement in 1963, he and his brothers became co-owners of the company. The Welch brothers were well known locally as well as through out Oklahoma and Kansas for their dedication to excellence in quality of construction. Leroy’s craftsmanship can be seen in numerous buildings, including Saint Joseph’s Hospital, Temple Emanuel, the addition to the Ponca City Library, buildings at Continental Oil Company, Pioneer and other area banks, churches, public business and professional buildings, schools, dormitories, apartment complexes and private residences. He was a life member of the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craft workers.

Leroy married Lela Frances Johnson, daughter of the Reverend and Mrs. Fred L. Johnson on August 29, 1948. They had three children, Jay Lynn Welch, Dana Eulalia Welch, and Fred Herbert Welch. They would have been married 68 years in August. As a young man, Leroy enjoyed motorcycles. A lifelong passion for archery began when his brother Joe gave him a bow in 1939. In 1955 he called a meeting at his home and founded the archery club, The Ponca Bowmen. This club procured an archery range to be used for practice and local and state tournaments. Leroy began making his own bows and developed this into an art. He loved target shooting, camping and deer hunting. He made life long friends from among fellow archers, camping and hunting buddies. For many years he was the Oklahoma State Bare Bow Champion. Later, Leroy became involved in brick mural installations for national artists using this medium. One of his favorites was the tropical themed entrance and exit walls to Crystal Bridge at Myriad Gardens in Oklahoma City. He also began enjoying health interests including jogging, walking, golf and attention to diet. Leroy was an active member of Albright United Methodist Church where he served as usher for many years. He volunteered for Habitat for Humanity. Those who knew him well will remember him for his moral values, integrity, work ethic, humble self effacing attitude, generosity, compassion and graciousness , all of which were grounded in his faith.

He was preceded in death by his parents, infant sister Patricia Welch, and three brothers, Allen Welch, Joseph Welch, and Don Welch.

He is survived by his wife Frances Welch, children Jay Lynn Welch of Oklahoma City, Dana Eulalia Whitsitt of Ponca City and Fred Herbert Welch of Tulsa; two grandsons Chad Adam Whitsitt of Bartlesville and Brad Eric Whitsitt of Ponca City; four great grand children Kylie Whitsitt, Chloe Whitsitt, Carson Whitsitt and Brexton Whitsitt; one sister Nila Larkin of Ponca City, one brother Lloyd Welch of Tulsa, one stepsister Marilyn Cook of Ponca City; and an extended family of cousins, nieces and nephews.

Services will be held at 2:00 PM, Monday at Albright United Methodist Church. Interment will follow at Resthaven-Sunset Memorial Park. Pall bearers will be Chad Whitsitt, Brad Whitsitt, Jimmy Welch, Joseph Welch Gene McNutt, and Allan Crocket.

Source: Trout Funeral Home