O. Thomas Welch Jr.

Services for O. Thomas Welch Jr., 82, of Longview, are scheduled for 1 p.m. Monday, January 10, 2011, in the sanctuary of First Baptist Church, 209 E. South Street, Longview, Texas, with Dr. Bill Everett of Carthage, and Dr. Charles Holland of Ft. Worth, officiating. Interment will follow in Memory Park Cemetery under the direction of Welch Funeral Home. Mr. Welch passed away at home surrounded by his family on Friday, January 7, 2011, after a brief illness.

Thomas was born May 11, 1928, in Longview, to O. Thomas Sr. and Alta Rita Brewster Welch. He graduated from Longview High School in 1944. He attended Texas A&M College where he received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Business with minors in history and psychology. Thomas was a graduate of Dallas Institute of Mortuary Science in 1948. He became a Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer for the State of Texas in 1950. He attended the National Foundation of Funeral Service Basic Management Course in 1961 and 1962.

Thomas became Manager and Funeral Director in charge of Welch Funeral Home in 1953, following the early death of his father.

During the funeral firm's membership in National Selected Morticians, a prestigious funeral organization, Thomas was elected to the Board of Directors in 1981, and elected President in 1984. Thomas was an acknowledged authority in funeral management and was invited to speak in front of many funeral industry groups. He represented the third generation of family in funeral service in Longview. The milestone of his career was the development and completion of the new Welch Funeral Home on north Judson Road. Over the years, Thomas served in a multitude of civic organizations, including but not limited to the following: Longview Downtown Rotary Club, Longview Chamber of Commerce, Americans for Tomorrow, Longview Symphony, Longview Historical Museum, Longview Downtown Development Corporation, and Longview Beautification Association. He was an early advocate of the beautification of downtown Longview. He was presented a Paul Harris Fellowship from the Rotary Foundation.

Thomas was a member of First Baptist Church from birth. However, in the 1950s, he was instrumental in helping establish Oakland Heights Baptist Church in north Longview. While a member there, he served as a deacon and Sunday school superintendent for 13 years.

Following his marriage to Susan Frazier in 1972, he returned to First Baptist Church where he served as a Sunday school teacher for the rest of his life.

Left to cherish his memory is his wife of 38 years, Susan; his children and their spouses, O. Thomas Welch III and Sherry, William Marcus Welch and Karla, both of Longview, Linda Welch Walker and Johnny of Highland Village, Texas. He also leaves six grandchildren, O. Thomas Welch, IV, Lauren Walker Chandler, Lindsey Welch Reis, Jonathan Walker, Dustin Welch, and Baughn Welch; and six great grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to Hiway 80 Rescue Mission, 3117 W. Marshall Ave., Longview, Texas 75604 or Salvation Army, 519 E, Cotton St., Longview, Texas 75601, or the American Cancer Society, 1301 South Broadway, Tyler, Texas 75701.

The family will receive friends at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 9, 2011 at Welch Funeral Home, 4619 Judson Road.

An online registry may be signed at www.news-journal.com, by clicking on the obituaries link.