Bernard Carl Welch, age 71, died after an extended illness at his home, 20660 Welch Lane, Venango Township, Crawford County, PA on Thursday, March 28, 2013. The son of the late Edwin Welch and Virginia Boyer Welch, he was born in Erie on May 14, 1941 and lived all of his life in Venango Township. He graduated from Cambridge Springs High School in the Class of 1959 and then entered the US Air Force. He served there for eight years as a bomb navigator with the Strategic Air Command until 1968. Returning home he was employed by Saegertown Components until 1975. He then became a dairy farmer which he was actively engaged until the present.
Surviving Bernard are two daughters – Julie Anne Johnson and her husband, Tim; Pamela Jane Griffin; and a son – Randall Carl Welch and his wife, Tammy, all living in Macon, GA. Also surviving are seven grandchildren – Stephanie Freed, Beth Futrell, Tony Griffin, Jr., Steven Griffin, Danielle Ayers, Tristan Welch, and Morgan Welch. In addition, surviving are eight great grandchildren; a sister – Myra Granat of Cambridge Springs; and several nieces and nephews. Bernard was preceded in death by a son – Kevin Carl Welch who died in 1996 and a brother – Ed Welch who died in 2009.
Friends may call at the Van Matre Family Funeral Home in Cambridge Springs on Monday from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the funeral service to be held at 10:00. Interment will be in Venango Cemetery.
Pam, There are so many things and times that bring back memories of your Father. I miss His music and His complaining (ha..ha..) I pictured Him in His tractor plowing the snow from the driveway down to the mail box….Hope You and the Family are doing fine and in the best of health ..Thoughts and Prayers are with You! Sincerely,
Pam I want to tell you how sorry I am about your Dads passing. My thoughts and prayers are with You and your Family. You meant the world to your Dad .He talked about you and Julie and Randy often. And He would light up like a light bulb when He talked about Kevin. We had some really fun times together, Especially when we went to Sandras Birthday Party and then Presque Isle we went to the look out point He grabbed His oxygen bottle and off we went. I remember when you told Him to let me win just one game of checkers and there was NO WAY He would let me win He was really head strong. He is out of pain and can breath freely But the LOVE HE had for the Beautiful Dairy Farm is ONE Sad and Lonely Place with out Him!! Much Love and Sincere Sympathy…Chris
You have may deepest sympathy. I knew Bernard from school & also worked with him at GTI. I thought a lot of him.
Myra & Joe, I’m so sorry I didn’t know until today. I couldn’t have come anyway as I’ve been down with the flu. Bernard will live on in your hearts. God Bless you all.
Love, Marilyn & family
Uncle Ben, I regret not meeting you through the years. I think I met you once when I was like kindergarten age or younger but missed meeting you in recent years while you were visiting due to me having to go out of town to visit my wife’s family. Aunt Maylene, Julie, Pam and Randy I will say a prayer for you during this time of sorrow. Love, Ken.
Our condolescenses are with each and every one of you. May God Bless You All.
Bernie was a very special man who had a dream and lived it out.He told me he had a dream of becoming a farmer so he built the barn from the ground up .he wouldn’t let nothing or no one get in the way of his dream and he lived it to his dieing day . He was very proud to have been able to live his dream and a very special man.
Julie, Pam and Randy,
I am so sorry to hear of the loss of your Daddy.
My prayers are with you during these sad times.
With Much Love,
Brandi
Pam, we are so sorry for the loss of your dad. Take comfort in knowing he is not sick anymore. My heart hurts for you. I know firsthand what you are going through. It is very hard. I pray for your comfort and peace. We love you.
Johnny & Sherri (cousin from Ga)
I, too, am very sorry to hear about Bernard’s passing. I remember him as a small
child and the fun we had on the farm when we were all there. The last time I saw him he wasn’t feelng very well but came to the reunion in spite of it. My condolences to all the family. God bless.
I am so very sorry to learn of Bernard’s death. As the oldest of the “crowd of cousins,” I knew him from his earliest days. I remember spending a week with his parents the summer following his birth and delighting in helping to care for this new baby cousin. My children all have fond memories of visits to the farm and my sons especially recall the pet raccoon. We last visited Bernard on the farm in August, 2010, and found him still involved and proud to show us around in spite of his physical difficulty. That farm has been the “Welch Farm” for 99 years and Bernard served as the third generation caretaker. We can never think of one without the other!
Godspeed, Cousin!
Berie our last 5 years togeather sure did prove our love was real. You will be greatly missed and I will always have you in my heart And the rose bush u brought me is a reminder of your love. I hope u r at peace now like you said our love will just go on for we knew it was real love no matter what others tried to say and do. We will always be as one . Love you always . fran
Judy & I share the heart felt loss of Bernard with his family. As we look back, he was the upbeat one in the “crowd of grandkids” that gathered on the Welch farm. He also had a srtong feeling for the “place” & lived it there.
He will be missed but remembered.
Judy & Dick Welch
St Marys, GA