Norman Allen Welch

April 17, 1941 - March 22, 2005

A memorial service for Norman A. "Norm" Welch, 63, of Coos Bay, will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 29, at Skyline Baptist Church in North Bend, with Dr. Jerry Hamilton officiating. Procession to Sunset Memorial Cemetery will follow immediately for services with full military honors. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday morning from 8 to 11 at Coos Bay Chapel, 685 Anderson Ave.

Norm was born April 17, 1941, in Berkeley, Calif., the son of Thomas and Gertrude Welch. He died March 22, 2005, in Coos Bay.

He grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and graduated from St. Mary's College High School in 1959. Soon after graduation, he joined the U.S. Air Force. After basic training, he married the love of his life, Donna Mae Martin, on Feb. 14, 1960. They spent 28 years traveling the world during his military service. Norm earned many awards and medals in the service, including the Distinguished Flying Cross with more than 127 combat flying missions while in Vietnam.

Norm and Donna enjoyed many years of bowling, square dancing and Scouting. Norm especially loved doing yard work, which earned him the name "Mr. Greenjeans." He also belonged to many organizations, including Kiwanis, SCBEC Human Services Advisory Board, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Education Service District, Homeless Resource Council Committee, and many others.

He worked many years earning his college degrees part time while raising his family. He received his associate of arts with the Community College of the Air Force and his bachelor of science degree from the University of Northern Colorado.

After retiring from the Air Force, he worked as the executive director for Alternative Youth Activities. He started with five employees and at one time, had 50. He loved his work and always tried to encourage the importance of education to the students.

He was a kind, loving husband and father and was admired and loved by all who knew him.

He retired from AYA in mid-July and four days later became ill, only soon to learn he had terminal cancer. He never complained and fought a valiant fight to the end.

He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Donna; children, Don, U.S. Marine Corps retired, of Coos Bay, Doug, U.S. Army retired and wife, Annette, of Coos Bay and Debra Copeland and husband, Darin, of California; sister, Pat Newton; nephew and wife, Dr. Bill and Brenda Newton; and niece, Suellen Noland and husband, Charlie. Norm also leaves behind seven wonderful grandchildren, Justin, Christopher, Alyssa, JaNaé, Brilynn, Jimmy and Tyler; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Linda Marie, in 1962; his parents; and his brother, Thomas.

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