Gary Welbaum

TIPP CITY - Gary Ronald Welbaum of Tipp City passed away Saturday, July 13th at age 92 at Brookdale Senior Living in Troy.

He was born December 7th, 1931, in Tipp City to the late Harold Ollis Welbaum and Marjorie (Earhart) Welbaum Ledford.

He was preceded in death by his sister, Pauline Shirley Welbaum Hughes and brother-in-law Phillip. L. Hughes, both in 2020.

He is survived by nieces and nephews Jeff Thuma of Tipp City, Brad Thuma of Laughlin, NV, Suzanne Michele (Jeff) Zickafoose of Tipp City, Mike (Regina) Hughes of Brookville, and Diahann (Jaydee) Blair of Tipp City, and numerous, great, great-great, and great-great-great nieces and nephews, as well as numerous cousins.

Gary was a 1950 graduate of Tippecanoe High School and was proud to say that he attended the old castle grade school in Tipp City. He attended the University of Dayton from 1950-1955, where he obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a major in Personnel Administration and a minor in Psychology.

He was drafted into the United States Army in 1955, attending basic training at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri before being deployed to US Army European Headquarters in Heidelberg, Germany. He greatly enjoyed his time in Germany, where he was able to spend time traveling and researching the German branch of his family tree. Genealogy was a lifelong passion of Gary's, and he not only researched his own family but helped many others find their own roots. He left Germany in October 1957 and returned to Dayton, where he worked as a traveling auditor for Top Value Stamps. In 1961 he moved to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. While in Florida he worked for Broward Pump and Supply Company as well as the City of West Palm Beach until his return to Tipp City in 1998 to help care for his mother. In recent years he spent many Thursday afternoons at the Latter-day Saints Church Family History Center in Dayton helping people research their family history.

Gary was a very generous Tipp City resident who cared a great deal about this community. He anonymously donated the Carillon Bells at Maple Hill Cemetery which the Township Trustees wanted to purchase but were unable to proceed due to the cost. Through his generous contribution the bells play every day at noon and 6 p.m., and by request at funerals and special occasions.

The family wishes to thank both Brookdale and DayCity Hospice for the loving care provided to Gary during the past 2-1/2 years. Graveside services will take place at Maple Hill Cemetery in Tipp City on Friday, July 26th at 2:00 p.m. Memorial contributions can be made to the Tippecanoe Historical Society, PO Box 42 Tipp City, Ohio 45371 DayCity Hospice of Dayton, 8039 Washington Village Drive Suite 110, Dayton, OH 45458. Arrangements have been entrusted to Frings and Bayliff Funeral Home, 327 W. Main St. Tipp City, Ohio 45371. Online condolences may be expressed at www.fringsandbayliff.com.