Dr. James Weathersby Welch Jr.

1937 - 2016

Dr. James Weathersby Welch, Jr.

Services celebrating the life of Dr. James Weathersby Welch, Jr.will be held at 1:00 P.M. on Monday, March 7, 2016, in the chapel of John Kramer & Son Funeral Home with Dr. Stewart Holloway,The Rev. James G. Theus and Dr. James W. White, III officiating. Interment will follow in Greenwood Memorial Park.

Visitation will be held from 4:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. on Sunday, March 6, 2016, and resume from 10:00 A.M. until time of service on Monday, March 7, 2016, at the funeral home.

Dr. Welch was born in Alexandria, Louisiana on June 18, 1937 to Dr. and Mrs. James W. Welch, Sr. Jim was a proud Bolton High School graduate, Class of 1955. He received his medical training at Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, where he was chief resident of his class. Jim practiced Ophthalmology in his hometown of Alexandria for 38 years.

He served his county in the United States Air Force as a flight surgeon during the Vietnam War and upon his return, completed his medical training in New Orleans. He then returned to Alexandria to begin his practice and raise his five children.

Jim was known by his colleagues, medical personnel, and patients as a compassionate, caring physician. He was a volunteer eye surgeon who traveled to Mexico to aid in restoring sight to people of the area. He was passionate about his work. He loved his patients and they loved him. One of his greatest joys was the Thursday and Saturday afternoon tennis matches with his long standing tennis group friends.

Survivors include his wife, Elizabeth "Libba" Asher Welch with whom he shared 32 years. Five children, Deborah Welch, of Dallas, Texas, Eleanor Kuraishi, of Cedar Park, Texas, Julie Welch, of Dallas, Texas, Cyntaya Welch, of Wilmington, Delaware and James W. Welch III, of Phoenix, Arizona; former wife and mother of his children, May Louise White. He was the proud grandfather to five grandchildren, Ben Thevenet, Cameron Thevenet, C.J. Derecskey, Chaily Derecskey, and May Kuraishi. He will be fondly remembered by his two loving sisters, Joellen Welch, of New Orleans, Louisiana, Mary Ann Welch of Santa Fe, New Mexico and his aunt, Pat Welch of Plano, Texas.

He is preceded in death by his parents and beloved Yorkie, Chrissie Belle.

Pallbearers honored to serve will be, Dr. Robert Freedman, Rep. Lance Harris, Dr. Phillip Carney, Dr. R. Bruce Wallace, III, Mr. Don Fields, Dr. Frank Sanchez and Foster Walker, IV.

Honorary Pallbearers will be Dr. Joe Hair, Dr. Frank Ingrish, Dr. James White, Dr. Vincent Vincent,III, Mr. William Owens, Mr. Michael Jenkins, Mr. Henry Blake, Judge F. A. Little, Jr., Dr. Don Edgerton, R.D. Crowell, III and Dr. Tunch Ertan.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be sent to BARK, P.O. Box 404, Tioga, LA 71477 or

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.