Walter William Welch III

Walter William Welch III, 87, a resident of the Keene, NH area, passed away on Friday, September 19, 2025, whilst surrounded by loving family, friends and his devoted caregiver after a difficult illness.

Walter was born in a town north of Boston, Massachusetts, in November 1937. He was one of many fun-loving children born to Lillian and Walter Welch Jr.

He spent his formative years growing up in Nahant, Massachusetts, graduating from the Belmont Hill School. As a youngster, he enjoyed his siblings, living at the beach, boating, skiing, wildlife, sports, writing poetry and all the adventures that the Boston area offered such as Scollay Square. He spent untold days exploring Egg Rock once he was old enough to command a boat on his own. He enjoyed many summers as a youngster attending camp at Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and later as camp counselor, lifeguard, swimming and small crafts boating instructor.

Walter received his bachelor's degree from the University of New Hampshire in Durham, where he also met his beloved wife, Edna.

Walter joined the United States Army through the ROTC. He served a long career faithfully with mind and heart, most notably serving multiple tours of combat duty in the Vietnam Conflict.

After an honorable discharge from the military, Walter continued his service to his country as a civilian. In what he felt became his true calling, Walter dedicated the remainder of his employed life, well beyond normal retirement age, to ensuring the quality and integrity of the equipment and technologies provided to the young men and women soldiers of the United States Armed Forces. He became well known in the New England region for his dedication to that cause, and companies like Timken (MPB) kept a desk for him.

During Walter's off-hours, he enjoyed many interests including the collection of timekeepers, coins, world travel, and hunting and fishing in the New Hampshire woods.

Walter will be remembered most by his friends for his listening ear, patience, generosity, humility and gentle spirit.

Walter is survived by his beloved granddaughter, daughter and son-in-law, ex-daughter-in-law, cherished sisters and devoted brother, brother-in-law, as well as many nieces and nephews and their children and grandchildren.

Walter was predeceased by his wife, his wife's parents, a brother-in-law, his own parents, longtime partners of sisters, and Edgard Vivas and his older sister and mother, as well as too too many comrades in arms.

Family and friends are invited to call on Sunday, September 28, 2025, from 1:00 to 3:00pm at the Fletcher Funeral Home, 33 Marlboro Street, Keene, NH. Burial with military honors will be held on Friday, October 3, 2025, at 1:00pm in the Village Cemetery, High Street, Spofford, NH.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations in Walter's honor to your local American Legion Post or to the American Cancer Society.