Welch Family History---for the WRCCF scrapbook:
Sunny (Phyllis) Welch was born to Hazel and Dr. W. Emerson Reck at Springfield, Ohio on August 2,19'77. At that time Dr. Reck was teaching journalism at Midland College. She lived at Fremont until moving to Hamilton, N.Y. in 1943, where her father worked at Colgate University.
Louis E. Welch, Jr. ( Lew) was born at Evanson, II. on September 13,1927 to Marie and Louis, who was at that time a metallurgist with Standard Oil of NJ. His family lived in various states and were living in Ohio when he enlisted in the Navy Air Corp.
The couple met while both were attending Denison University at Granville, Ohic, graduating in 1949. Lewis went to work in Pittsburgh and Sunny at the U. of Mich. They were married in Springfield Ohio ( Dr. Reck. was now a VP of Wittenberg University) in July of 1950. Lewis was then employed by the Hartford Insurance Co. and working in Omaha. Their first child, Teresa, was born while they lived in Omaha. The next two daughters, Suzanne and Nancv were born in Hutchinson, Kansas, where Lew managed a company claim office. Skip ( Louis E. III) and Richard were born in North Platte, Ne. At that time the couple became acquainted with Chas. Moyer and Wilbur McCumber of Wood River. In 1956 the family moved to Bethleham, PA and son Jack was born there. In 1958 the family, now eight in number, moved to Wood River and into the "old Kuntz" place across from St. Mary's Church. Lew began work at the bank and became a partner in the Insurance and Real Estate Agency. The next five children- Jim, Patti, Don, Vicki and Peggy - came along to complete the family. All the children graduated from Wood River High school over a fourteen year period, starting in 1969, and went on for additional education.
The Welch family has been active in civic, school, social and religious activities. Since retirement as bank vice president, Lew has been enjoying his hobbies, particularly flying and wood working. He still serves as a bank director. Sunny works as a volunteer with several organizations--- Oncology, Hospice, Red Cross-- when the couple is not traveling to visit family members, which now include '2O grandchildren living in seven states. Lew worked as treasurer of the Centennial in 1982 and afterward helped to organize the WOOD RIVER COMMUNITY FOUNDATION, serving several years as treasurer and director.