James Edwin “Eddie” Welch, age 66, resident of 845 M. Street, Gering, Nebraska, died unexpectedly November 2, 2009 at UPMC Hospital in Pittsburgh. Formerly a Venango resident, he had lived in Nebraska since 1996 and was visiting family here in Venango. Born in Meadville, PA on June 10, 1943, he was a son of the late Edwin A. Welch and E. Virginia Boyer Welch. On November 22, 1973 he married the former Linda Loree Mathews and she survives.
Eddie attended Cambridge Springs High School and shortly thereafter served his country in the US Army during the Viet Nam War. Returning from the military, Eddie worked a short time for the PA Game Commission at the pheasant farm located east of Cambridge Springs. He then began a lasting career in road construction as a heavy equipment operator. Places of employment included SPA Construction in Cambridge Springs for nine years and for Waterford Township and for LeBoeuf Township, both in Erie County. He belonged to the Venango VFW Post #169 as an honorary member and to the American Legion in Gering, NE. His interests included vegetable and flower gardening, woodworking, and hunting. His family was important to him and he enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren.
Surviving Eddie in addition to his wife of 35 years include three daughters – Crystal Brown and her fianc?, Tim Soltesz of Venango; Sylvia Severson and her husband, Grant of Gering, NE; and Amanda Ziegler and her husband, Chris of Mitchell, NE; four grandchildren – Jamie Brown, Emily Severson, Hunter Ziegler, and Addison Ziegler; a brother – Bernard Welch of Cambridge Springs and a sister – Myra Granat and her husband, Joe of Cambridge Springs. Also surviving are many nieces and nephews.
Friends are invited to attend a memorial service at the Van Matre Family Funeral Home in Cambridge Springs this coming Sunday at 3:00 p.m. Reverend Duane Pinney, pastor of the Washington Christian Valley Church, will officiate. Memorial gifts may be made directly to the family.
We were so sad to learn of Eddie’s death and regret that we will be unable to be with you on Sunday. Please know that we will be with you in spirit then and in the days to come. We send our love and prayers to you all.
We understand how difficult it is to deal with a loved one’s sudden passing. Although we will not be able to be with you for Eddie’s memorial service, we want you to know we will be thinking of you tomorrow and in the days to come.
Love and prayers, Joe & Carol
We were so so sorry to hear of Eddie’s passing. And we are also sorry that we’ll be unable to attend the service. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of Eddie’s family.
You will be missed, but the many good times we had will not.