William G. Welch, 86, of Bradenton, Florida went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Tuesday, December 12, 2017, at the Bay Pines VA Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida. William (Bill) was born in Homerville, OH on June 22, 1931 to George and Nellie Welch. He graduated from Fairview Park High School (1950) in Fairview Park, Ohio.

Bill enlisted in the U.S. Navy August 30, 1951 and graduated from Navy Airman School in Jacksonville, FL, and Navy Aviation Machinist Mate School in Memphis, Tennessee. He served aboard the USS Wasp Air Craft Carrier during the Korean War. Bill was awarded Honorable Discharge February 26, 1954 and served in the Navy Reserve until August 29, 1959.

Bill was a successful businessman. He was a top producing salesman with Milner Electric Company for 30 years in Cleveland, Ohio, and was President of Spencer Land Company.

Bill was a born-again Christian, and enjoyed studying the scriptures. He graduated from the The Moody Bible Institute Evening School Program (Cleveland, Ohio Extension) in May, 1983.

Survived by his loving family, two sons; Jeff Welch and his wife Susan of Tampa, Florida, and Michael Welch and his wife Vicki of Erfenbach, Germany; daughter Brenda Simmons and her husband Doug of Olathe, Kansas; a sister, Gerry Meadows and her husband Rev. Buel Meadows of Longview, Texas; 13 grandchildren and 6 great-grand children.

Graveside service with full Navy Military Honors will be held at Bay Pines National Cemetery on Friday, February 2, 2018 at 1:30 p.m. Bill’s family would like to thank the Bay Pines VA Hospital staff, especially the MICU unit, for the wonderful care given to Bill throughout his care at the Medical Center.

Memorial contributions may be made in Bill’s honor to The Fisher House, P.O. Box 5005 (ooFH), Bay Pines, FL 33744.