William L. Welter Jr.

WILLIAMSBURG - In loving memory of Dr. William Lloyd Welter Jr., born Sept. 19, 1932, in Secane, Pa. Son of the late William L. Welter Sr. and Georgia Cull Welter. Dr. Welter passed away March 23, 2009, in Williamsburg, Va. He was a loving husband, father, brother, and granddad.
Bill attended West Point Military Academy, graduating on Tuesday, June 7, with the Class of 1955. He was a member of the West Point Swim and Water Polo teams. He was a great athlete enjoying daily tennis matches and bike rides. After graduation from the USMA Bill entered the U.S. Army and earned his wings in Army Aviation School in 1956. He was a graduate from Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va., earning a Masters in Areonautical and Areospace Engineering. He later attended U.S. Navy Test Pilot School in Patuxent River NAS Maryland. Dr. Welter received a Ph. D. in Higher Education Administration from the College of William and Mary in 1975. He enjoyed teaching and working with students.
Dr. Welter was the former holder of the World Helicopter Record for Time-To-Climb to 9000 meters, set in a modified UH-1D helicopter. He was also the primary government engineering test pilot assigned to evaluate the XV-5A Fan-in-Wing Jet aircraft for potential with the DOD. He held licenses to operate fixed wing, rotor, jet and lighter than air aircraft.
His military decorations include, the Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, Vietnam Service Medal with two Battle Stars, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with 60 device.
Dr. Bill Welter is survived by his wife of 53 years, Sherry Lee Mitchell Welter; his sister, Nancy Welter Akin of Toms River, N.J.; his son, William L. Welter III of Tampa and Miami Beach, Fla.; daughters, Melissa Welter Carpenter and Mary Elizabeth Welter of Richmond, Va., Virginia Welter Gilliam of Chapel Hill, N.C. Bill is also survived by his eight grandchildren, Will, Sam and Grey Capenter, Rob and Lee Gilliam and Lloyd, Bo and Meg Young; and sons-in-law, Robert Gilliam and Tim Carpenter. Numerous nieces, nephews and other family members survive Bill.
A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Friday, March 27, 2009, in the Bruton Parish Espicopal Church with interment to follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday evening at the Bucktrout of Williamsburg Funeral Home. Memorial donations may be made to the Bruton Parish Esipcopal Church.
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