Gary E. Welch

Gary E. Welch May 23, 1939 February 22, 2009 Gary E. Welch of Waco passed away Sunday, February 22, 2009. Memorial services will be 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, February 25 at First Baptist Church of Waco with Dr. Tom Parrish officiating, with a reception immediately following the Memorial Service at the church. There will be a private family burial. Gary E. Welch, born May 23, 1939 in San Angelo, Texas, was the third child of Ralph House Welch and Helen Martin Welch. The family moved to Post, Texas in 1943, and Gary graduated from Post High School on May 23, 1957, having been active in football and FHA. He earned a BBA degree from Texas Tech University, paying his way by working on holidays and weekends in the oil fields near Post. In the summers, he was a smoke jumper for the U.S. Forest Service in Oregon. While at Texas Tech, he was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity, a 4-year letterman on the swimming team, a member of the Double T Letterman's Association, and a member of ROTC. In his senior at Texas Tech, Gary met Nancy Hambrick, and they married in Ballinger, Texas on May 4, 1963. After graduation, Gary reported for active duty in Ft. Benning, Georgia, and then was assigned to the Second Armored Division in Fort Hood, Texas. During his Army career, Gary received the Expert Infantry Badge, Jump Wings, and was a member of the Ft. Hood Tankers football team, swimming and triathlon team, and wrestling team, winning the 4th Army Championship in Swimming and Triathlon. Upon leaving active duty with the Army, Gary became a national bank examiner with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, U.S. Treasury Department, stationed in Amarillo, Abilene, and Waco, Texas. In October, 1969, he left the Comptroller's office to become Vice President of Community State Bank in Waco. After four years, he next served as Vice President of the First State Bank, Riesel, Texas beginning August 1973, and purchased controlling interest in the bank in January, 1979. Upon selling his interest in The First State Bank, Riesel in September, 1993, Welch served on the board of the First National Bank of Hamilton, where he served also as interim President for six months in 1999. Civic duties included serving as an officer and director of the Waco Jaycees, president of the Masonic Lodge No. 835 where he was an endowed member, a 32nd Degree Mason and endowed member of the Scottish Rite of Free Masonry. He was also a life member of the National Smokejumpers Association and regularly attended reunions held every three or four years in the U.S. Northwest. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Waco since 1969 where he especially enjoyed attending the McCall Bible Class. A lifetime rancher, Gary owned ranches in Garza, Sterling, McLennan, and Falls counties, and enjoyed working to improve the ranches during his ownership. Welch was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife, Nancy, and their four children and their families: Lance Welch and wife, Nanette; daughter, Remington and son, Ryder of Boerne, Texas; Cam Welch and wife, Stacey, and sons Wilson and Ross of Dallas, Texas; Cody Welch and wife, Erin, and sons, Sterling and Jackson of Indianapolis, Indiana; and daughter, Whitney Welch of Salt Lake City, Utah. He is also survived by his sister, Wilma Carey of Covington, Georgia, and brothers, Bernie Welch of Kiowa County and Larry Welch of San Antonio, Texas; and mother-in-law, Mrs. Charles Hambrick of Waco. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Fuzzy Friends, Waco Humane Society, First Baptist Church of Waco, or a charity of the donor's choice. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our "Memorial Guestbook" at www.wilkirsonhatchbailey.com.