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.
Welch, James Edwin 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.