Erwin Kay Welsh

   Cause of his death was cancer.

  General Notes:

OBITUARY:
"Erwin K."Bud" Welsh 1925-2003 Of Frankenmuth, age 78, died Tuesday, October 7, 2003 at Covenant Medical Center Harrison in Saginaw. Mr. Welsh was born April 4, 1925 in Saginaw, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Glenn and Leta (Hixon) Welsh. He and Ila Purcell were united in marriage December 6, 1951 at the First United Methodist Church in Vassar. Mr. Welsh was a graduate of Vassar High School Class of 1943. He went on to graduate from Michigan State College in 1949. Mr. Welsh was a veteran of World War II having served in the U.S. Air Force Along with his brother, Glenn, he started the Welsh Aircraft Services in 1948 He owned and operated a number of local businesses until his retirement in 1991. Mr. Welsh was very active in city events, having served on the Vassar School Board for two terms and Vassar City Council. He was Chairman of building the Vassar City Hall and D.P.W. and was awarded a Key to the City. Mr. Welsh was a Life Member of Vassar Masonic Lodge 163 F & AM. He was a lifetime member of the First United Methodist Church of Vassar where he served in many capacities. Bud's greatest joy was his family and spending time with them. He was a lifelong pilot and enjoyed model airplanes, fishing and traveling. After his retirement he and his wife, Ila, spent winters in Arizona. Surviving are Wife, Ila of Frankenmuth, three children, Mary and husband, Randy Seabright of Frankenmuth, Kurt and wife, Lori Welsh of Saginaw, and Laura and husband, Tim Van Y of Lapeer; six grandchildren, Sara and Annie Seabright, Christopher and Candice Welsh, Renee and Lynn Van Y; brother, Glenn and wife, Norma Jean Welsh of Mesa, Az; sister, Lola and husband, Frank Guglietta of Connecticut; four sisters-in law; one brother-in-law; many neices and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and special friends, R.D. and Ann Stacer and Vincent "Willie" Oprea. Funderal services will be held 1:00 PM, Friday, October 10, 2003 at the Vassar First United Methodist Church with Rev. Steve Woodford and Rev. Clair Patton officiating. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery. Family will be present to receive friends at the Martin Funeral Home, Clark Chapel in Vassar on Thursday from 12-4 pm and 6-9 pm and of Friday 9-11 am. Family and friends will gather at the church for services at 1:00 pm Those desiring, may consider memorial contributions to the Lutheran Home Health Care in Frankenmuth or Vassar First United Methodist Church. Envelopes are available at thefuneral home and at church. Friends may share memories, prayers, and stories with the family at the funeral home, church and at www.martinfuneralhome.com <http://www.martinfuneralhome.com>
(Martin Funeral Home, Clark Chapel - Vassar, M-15 top of the hill in Vassar)"
Cousin Rodney Welsh wrote, "He died after a long sickness of about two years from some form of cancer. I heard that the chemotherapy he was taking had distroyed his ability to eat properly. I got to know Bud much better after I was grown and lived in Vassar in Dr. Clair Blossom's house across from Leta's. His son, Kurt's first wife was Carol Marr--the mother of his children, Christopher and Candice--. Carol lived in my house for 3 years when she was growing up. Bud and I talked to each other many times at the Methodist Church. He told me about flying P-38's from South America to North Africa during WWII. I didn't realize then that he was a teenager at the time."

Erwin married Ila J. Purcell.