Jerry W. Welch

Jerry Wayne Welch, age 69, of Houston, died Saturday, the 18th of February 2012, in Tartagal, Argentina. Jerry was born in Gorman, Texas on the 10th of February1943, to Joel and Claudia Welch. Jerry grew up in Breckenridge, Texas and spent his younger years with his family living all over the United States and South America while his dad worked in the oil field.

Jerry followed in his dad’s footsteps by working in the oil and gas industry starting his career with Drilco, Inc. in Texas. He held several positions with Drilco eventually being transferred to Lafayette, Louisiana as district manager. While in Lafayette he worked for Reamco, Inc. holding several management positions eventually branching out to international sales. Jerry excelled in the international market working all over the world, eventually landing in Tartagal, Argentina. There Jerry owned his own company Oil Tools International Argentina for the past 13 years.

Jerry will always be known as an entrepreneur and a driving force in marketing and manufacturing down hole drilling tools. He would never settle for mediocrity and demanded that his customers receive quality products and services.

Jerry was passionate about the oil business but he really loved entertaining and cooking for his friends. He always enjoyed a big “cook out” and making sure that his friends had a good time.

Jerry is preceded in death by his mother and father, the late, Joel Edgar Welch and Claudie Veda Wright, grandparents and numerous aunts and uncles. He is survived by his son, Timothy Welch and wife Nichola of Houston, Texas; his brother Joel Welch and wife Anita of Lindale, Texas; his nephew Dr. Ronald Welch and wife Laura of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina; his nieces Nita Awalt and husband Randy of Albany, Texas and Jeannie and husband Robert of Cleburne, Texas. Jerry is also survived by three grandchildren, Emily and Noah Welch and John Robert Carr all of whom he loved greatly.

Very dear to Jerry were his close friends (family) in Tartagal, Argentina, Soledad Santillan, Pablo Reguilon, Cinta Vaca, Hector Sato, Dr. Javier Nallar, Luis Katz and Antonio Figueroa of Bolivia. His friends gave him much joy, happiness and enriched his life while he lived in Tartagal.

Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from six until eight o'clock in the evening on Thursday, the 8th of March, in the Grand Foyer of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons at 1010 Bering in Houston.

The memorial service is to be conducted at eleven o'clock in the morning on Friday, the 9th of March, at the Friendship Court of Memorial Drive United Methodist Church, 12955 Memorial Drive in Houston, where Rev. Collin B. Taylor, Associate Pastor, is to officiate.

The family will gather for an interment service at a later date in Gorman, Texas.

In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests that contributions in memory of Jerry be made to the Shriners Hospitals for Children — Galveston, 815 Market St., Galveston, TX 77550-2725; or to the charity of one's choice.