Marshall Co., OK; Obituary: Don Welch, Jr.

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Maxine Reggio
reggio@flash.net
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Madill Record  
SERVICES FOR DON WELCH CONDUCTED HERE MONDAY-APRIL 12,1973       

Don Welch, Jr., part of an established legal profession tradition in this
area for two generations, died last Thursday. He was 50 years old. Death
came to the widely-recognized attorney after a seven month battle with
cancer. He was in an Emeryville, Calif. hospital at the time of his death.
Funeral services were conducted Monday afternoon from Watts Memorial Chapel
with Rev. Thomas W. Nickols, a Presbyterian minister from Sherman,
officiating. He was assisted by Charlie D. Payne of Lawton, a longtime
personal friend of Mr. Welch. While he was commonly known as Don, Jr., Mr.
Welch did not actually bear the formal name of his father, the late William
Donovan Welch, who died in 1955. The son was christened Donovan Emery when
he was born here September 23, 1922. Mr. Welchcompleted his secondary
education in the Madill school system, graduating from Madill high school
in 1940. He entered the University of Oklahoma, but like many young men of
that era, his education was interrupted by military service during World
War II. Serving with the U.S. Air Force. Mr. Welch was a second lieutenant.
Returning home, he completed undergraduate studies and earned his law
degree at O.U. in 1948, returning to Madill at that time to join his father
in law practice. active in civic affairs after returning home to live, Mr.
Welch was a member of the Rotary club. During this period he was recognized
as being the first second generation member to serve as president of the
civic club after his father had held that office. A political interest led
to the election of Mr. Welch to the Oklahoma State Legislature. He served
as the representative from Marshall County for a single term and declined
to seek re-election. Mr. Welch has been a practicing attorney in the
Madill, Tishomingo and Oklahoma City area since the late 1940's. He was
serving as the general council with the Oklahoma Railroad Commission and
gained regional prominence in the legal profession as general council with
the Western Railway Association. The Welch family has been prominently
identified with this area since 1920 when the father came here from
Antlers. The father and grandfather were both born in Indian Territory. Mr.
Welch was also a member of the American Legion Post. He was associated with
Phi Gamma and many honorary legal societies. He was also a member of the
Presbyterian Church. Mrs. Ellen Rowe Phillips was soloist for funeral
services. Organist was David Dale. Committal services were conducted at
Woodberry-forest cemetery. Active pallbearers were Lyn E. Ables, Bob
Bateson, Ed Dudley, Wesley Finley, Gene Fondren and Ace Pickens. Honorary
escorts were James W. Berry, Charles Jones, Joe Minter, Bob Nesbitt, Bill
Walton and J.L. Woody. Mr. Welch is survived by his wife, Sidney, of the
family home in Madill; his daughter, Mrs. Gay Lynn Purser of Oklahoma City;
two sons, Donovan Welch of Oklahoma City and Tim Welch of Norman; his
mother, Mrs. Clara Welch Grigsby, and a sister, Mrs. Boyce Harkey both of
Waggoner. Also surviving are three stepsons, Bill, Randy and Jim
Hackathorn, all of Tulsa; two step-daughters, Mrs. Dale Fjeld of Ethiopia
and Miss. Leann Welch of Tulsa, and eight grandchildren.