Jeanne Ford Welch

Jeanne lived a life shaped by curiosity, courage, and a deep appreciation for the world’s beauty. She built her early career as a computer programmer and systems analyst, a path uncommon for women of her generation, before later channeling her creativity into owning a custom picture framing business. But it was her sense of adventure that defined her most. Inspired by a childhood favorite song about “faraway places with strange-sounding names,” Jeanne spent her life answering that call. She traveled to all seven continents, exploring 106 countries through diving, hiking, camping, and every kind of adventure she could find. From remote coastlines to bustling cities, she believed the world was meant to be experienced “by walking a mile in someone else’s moccasins and understanding why they feel the way they do.”

Jeanne was initiated into the P.E.O. Sisterhood in March 1962, and the sisterhood became an important through line in her life. She held multiple leadership roles, including serving as President for two years, and treasured the lifelong friendships and shared commitment to education and service.

Service was a constant in Jeanne’s life. She organized and led brain camps for individuals with Alzheimer’s and dementia, offering connection and stimulation with compassion and patience. She also spent time in Cambodia volunteering in an orphanage, an experience she carried with her always. Her devotion to helping others was an extension of her faith; she was a proud and steady Episcopalian who found comfort and direction in her relationship with God.

In her later years, Jeanne found a true home at Brazos Towers, where she became an active and well-loved member of the community. She cherished the friendships she built there and especially enjoyed attending line dancing classes, which brought her laughter, movement, and a wonderful sense of belonging.

She loved new cultures, new foods, new ideas, and the feeling of stepping off an airplane into a place she had never been before. Those who loved her will remember her spark, her laugh, and her unwavering belief that the world was meant to be explored.

Jeanne was preceded in death by her father, Erwin Ford; her mother, Dorothy Kramer Reiffert; her stepfather, Walter Reiffert; her sons, Robert “Bobby” Bridgman, Jr. and Robert “Bob” Manry; and her husbands Robert Bridgman, Leon “Tink” Manry, and Richard Welch.

She is survived by her sisters, Meredith “Mimi” Zabolio & Barbara Boghetich; her children Chrisann (Wally) Wedlich, Mike (Wei) Manry, David Manry, Peter (Vickey) Manry, and Pattie (Karl) Schmidt; her niece Cynthia (Nestor Hernandez, with daughter Stephanie Hernandez (Alan Akerman, with children Lucas and Josh)) Robinson; her nephew David (Kim, with children Connor Winn (Seema, with children Pierce and Isla), Taylor Callaghan (Spencer, with son Patrick), and Chase (Lacey)) Robinson; and her grandchildren Hailey & Will Wedlich, Diane & Thomas Manry, Jena (Ted) Ciers, Marianne, Paul & Eugene (EunYoung) Manry, and Karl Jr., Josef, & Kathleen Schmidt.

A memorial service will be held on Sunday, December 14, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Houston, Texas, with a reception to follow in the Parish Hall. In honor of Jeanne’s lifelong commitment to service, the family welcomes memorial donations to either of the following:

Her P.E.O. Sisterhood chapter

Checks may be mailed to:

Chapter AC, P.E.O. Sisterhood

c/o Carol Wiener

2112 Walnut Bend Ln.

Houston, TX 77042

Or

The Gathering Place

Donations may be made online at: https://gatheringplacebrazoria.org/donate

Jeanne’s life was rich with meaning, memory, and exploration. She leaves behind a legacy of adventure, resilience, and an enduring love for the faraway places that called her.