David Lee Welch

David Lee Welch, 73, hung up his school bus keys (symbolically speaking) for the last time on July 27, 2017, after suffering a massive hemorrhagic stroke in the wee hours of the morning. Memorial services will be held on Sunday, July 30, at 3:30pm, at Lamar Avenue Church of Christ, 3535 Lamar Ave, Paris TX. Visitation will begin one hour prior to the memorial service. Bright-Holland Funeral Home is in charge of cremation services. David was born the middle son of John Henry and Millie Lee Tinney Welch on March 16, 1944, in Winnsboro, Texas. He attended schools in Winnsboro and following his graduation in 1962, he attended Tyler Junior College. His older brother had driven the school bus to TJC, and David followed in his footsteps, bussing junior college students from Winnsboro to Tyler. He maintained his CDL from the time he was 18 until his death, having driven busses for Paris I.S.D. 48 years. He graduated from Tyler Junior College and East Texas State University in Commerce, and was thrilled when ETSU became a part of the Texas A&M family. He earned his Masters of Education, all levels, in 1973. He taught Agriculture in Miller Grove, then moved to Paris where he was hired to teach Physical Education to elementary school students in a pilot program to help them learn the rules of all sports and basics of the games. He taught at Thomas S. Justiss Elementary School for 34 years, retiring in 2003. He continued driving the school bus until he was waylaid by a mild stroke on Easter weekend of this year. He was recovering well when he unexpectedly suffered a major stroke. He was a member of the Church of Christ, and served as part time janitor at Lamar Avenue Church. He was known as “Coach” Welch to thousands of children in Paris. David was a charter member of the Lamar County Young Farmers, serving in all capacities over the years. He was instrumental in helping bring the exciting sport of “tractor pulling” to Paris for a number of years. He was a member of the Lamar-Delta Retired Teachers School Employees Association (Lamar-Delta RTSEA). He enjoyed watching the Texas Rangers on tv, as well as old westerns, reruns of MASH, and reading Zane Grey western books. David was preceded in death by his parents and his older brother Carl Welch. He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Sherry Sue Cross Welch; his children, David Shane Welch and wife Tanya of Paris, and Shannon Ruth Welch Kingsbury and husband Dennis of Tyler, six grandchildren: Jordan and husband Nathan Wilhelm of Bedford; Kelci and husband Clay Friddle of McKinney; Justin Welch and Kolton Welch of Paris; Dillon Kingsbury and Evan Kingsbury of Tyler; and one great granddaughter, Hazel Wilhelm of Bedford. He is also survived by his younger brother and sister-in-law, Bill and Becky Welch of Keller, as well as nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Missing him most of all are his feline friends, Thelma and Louise. In lieu of floral remembrances, the family requests memorial gifts, if desired, to go to the Latch Key program at Lamar Avenue church of Christ, 3535 Lamar Ave, Paris TX 75460, or the Lamar-Delta RTSEA (retired teachers group), PO Box 1865, Paris TX 75461.