Obituary of Joseph B. Welch

Joseph B. Welch, 74, of Olive Ave. Lakewood, NY passed away at 4:30 a.m. Saturday (January 22, 2011) in the emergency room of W.C.A. Hospital. A lifelong area resident he was born November 30, 1936 in Jamestown, NY a son of the late John F. and Cecelia Ditonto Welch. He was a 1955 graduate of Jamestown High School and was a veteran of the U.S. Army serving from January 1960 to August 1965. Before his retirement, he was employed by the Jamestown Police Department from 1965 - 1993, retiring as a detective. He was also a member of the Kendall Club Police Benevolent Association. During his tenure with the police department he was cited as "officer of the year" in February 1973. He also was the first recipient of the exceptional police service award sponsored by the department and Pri Det Investigations, Inc. and received the Kendall Club Meritorious Service Award for his actions during a crisis intervention with a deranged person. He will be remembered as an avid lover of birds of all kinds. He also loved to spend time with family and friends enjoying the outdoors, dancing and collecting books. He was a strong family man with a compassionate and kind heart. Surviving are his children, Maureen Y. Welch, Samuel T. Welch both of Panama, Joseph T. Welch of Lakewood, John K. Welch of Chittenango, NY, eleven grandchildren Darcy A. Welch Debra A. Berlund both of Jamestown, Joseph T. Welch, Jr. of Lakewood, Cristina M. Welch of Bemus Point, Jonathan C. Welch of Panama, Maegan J. Welch, Nicholas J. Welch, Taylor L. Welch, Elizabeth K. Welch, Benjamin M. Welch all of Chittenango, NY, Mary Persons of Randolph, NY, five great grandchildren and a sister Frances E. D'Angelo of Jamestown. Besides his father who died July 7, 1975 and his mother who died June 15, 2010, he was preceded in death by his wife the former Roseanne E. "Cookie" Nalbone Welch who died May 31, 1998. The funeral will be held at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday in the Lind Funeral Home. Msgr. Joseph M. Dowdell, pastor of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church will officiate. Burial will be in the Holy Sepulchre Cemetery. Friends will be received from 2-4 & 7-9 p.m. Tuesday in the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Hospice Chautauqua County, 20 West Fairmount Ave. Lakewood, NY 14750.