James Darrell Welch, known as “Jim”, passed away October 20, 2018 at Presbyterian Hospital, Plano. Born August 22, 1931 to Flay and Paul Welch in Sour Lake, Texas, Jim was 87 at the time of his death. Jim is survived by, and will be lovingly remembered by, Mary, his wife of 31 years. He attended Texas A &M College and was a member of the A&M Corps of Cadets. After earning a degree in civil engineering, he began a 23-year career in the Air Force. During those years, he earned a degree in electrical engineering at Texas A&M University and had many exciting stateside and overseas assignments in his work in military communications. In 1968-69, Jim served as a base commander during the war in Viet Nam. He retired as a Lt. Colonel in Colorado Springs, Colorado. For several years, he had his own ‘big rig” and contracted with Mayflower. In 1979, he returned to Texas and continued his career as a Professional Engineer working for the State of Texas Health Department and as a private engineering consultant. Jim retired to the lake in Minneola, Texas where he was a Mason and an active member of the First Baptist Church. As an active volunteer with the Baptist Men, he and his wife, Mary, traveled to various locations across the United States to help build new churches. Fishing, woodworking and creating beautiful stained glass art were his hobbies. Jim is survived by his three children, Becki (Larry) Hoffman, James (Denise) Welch, and Dr, Suzanne Welch; their mother, Martha Welch; his three grandchildren, Dr. Sarah (Charles) Otto, Jeremy Hoffman and Melissa (Josh) Stark; and his two great grandchildren, Kate and Charli. His sister, Eva Jo Lever, preceded him in death. Jim is also survived by members of his wife Mary’s family who loved him like a father and grandfather and include her three daughters, Becky Grimes, Julie (Steve) Whitten, and Bonita (Pat) Jones; her daughter-in-law, Priscilla Rogers; her four grandchildren, Bo Rogers, Connie McKeever, Casey Rogers and Libby Wilson; and her nine great grandchildren, Cohl, Faith, Caswell, Cherokee, Mason, Kaycee, Karma, Lillie and Anthony. Mary’s son, Roy Rogers, preceded Jim in death. A Chapel service for James “Jim” Welch will be held Monday, October 29, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at Rhoton Funeral Home in Carrollton, Texas. A graveside Military Service will follow at 1:30 p.m. at the Dallas – Fort Worth National Cemetery in Dallas, Texas.
