Gary Michael Welling

Gary had been in and out of the hospital for the last 11 years. Instead of sending flowers, the family asks for donations be sent via PayPal to [email protected].

There will be a viewing from 6:00PM – 8:00PM on Thursday, September 5, 2019 at Cook-Walden Chapel of the Hills Funeral Home at 9700 Anderson Mill Rd., Austin, Texas 78750. The funeral service will be held at St. Thomas More Catholic Church at 10:00AM, Friday, September 6, 2019 at 10205 N FM 620, Austin, Texas 78726. Gary will be laid to rest at the Cedar Park Cemetery immediately after the service.

Gary was born in Steubenville, Ohio on March 9, 1943 to Wylie and Mary Conley Welling. He graduated from Steubenville Big Red High School in 1961 and, subsequently, Pennsylvania Technical College in 1963. He met his beautiful bride, Linda Frey Welling, in Steubenville and they wed on June 25, 1966. The two began their lives together in Pittsburgh, PA as Gary began his career in the high-tech industry.

Gary was a pioneer in the computer industry, beginning his profession at IBM in 1963. He started as a field engineer, working on mainframe computers. IBM moved him around until 1977 when he moved his family to Austin, Texas, where he was elevated to Director. Gary grew his career to become an executive at companies such as DataPoint, PowerComputing, Micron Computers and Dell Computers. In his role as Vice President of Worldwide Quality and Support at Dell in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s, Gary lead the organization to achieve a record 7-straight JD Power & Associates awards for Quality and Support. It was Dell’s level of support and its unique “Just In Time” business model that propelled Dell to be the world leader in PC computing.

His career stretched beyond the world of technology in 1994 when he and his family opened an upscale pool hall in Round Rock, Texas. G Cue Billiards operated for 14 years and was home to the second-longest-running 9-ball tournament in the United States, the Texas Open.

Gary was a devout Catholic and was very active in the church. He was on the finance committee and one of the founders of St. Thomas More in Austin. His involvement stretched from usher, to lecturer, Eucharistic minister and mentor to the high school youth group, BIC.

He loved music and had a beautiful singing voice. He would share that voice with the world while doing karaoke at his pool hall or even break out in song at random times.

Linda and Gary had two sons, Kevin Michael Welling of Austin, Texas and Bradley Patrick Welling of Fort Worth, Texas. Gary’s passion for sports and love for his sons was evident in his support and service to Town & Country Optimist as little league coach and commissioner for years. He also loved to yell on and yell at the Texas Longhorns in any sport they played.

Gary was preceded in death by his brother Larry Welling and his sister Maryann Hanlon Wagner. He is survived by his incredible wife of 53 years, Linda Frey Welling; along with Kevin Welling; Brad and Kari Welling, and his two grandchildren, Mikayla and Brenden Welling; as well as, many loving nieces, nephews, family and countless friends.

He was a great man that impacted lives and the world in a positive way. He will be missed dearly.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.cookwaldenchapelofthehills.com.