John Stephen Welling

John Stephen Welling, 71, passed away on February 12, 2026.

He was born on September 30, 1954, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to James Harry Welling and Lena Geraldine Welling. During his childhood, his family served as missionaries in Morocco, where he developed independence, adaptability, and a sense of adventure exploring the desert with his siblings.

He graduated from Mt. Gilead High School and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and Sociology from Malone University, where he participated in Chamber Chorale, Varsity Soccer, Varsity Wrestling, and Student Government. He later earned an Associate degree in Applied Electronics from North Central Technical College and completed engineering training through a General Motors apprenticeship program.

John built a respected career in manufacturing leadership within global automotive supplier environments, holding senior roles in engineering and operations and later working as a manufacturing management consultant.

Music was central throughout his life. He loved to sing and was actively involved in church worship teams and church bands for many years.

He had a lifelong love of cars, buses, and RVs, appreciating both the mechanics and the sense of freedom they represented. After marrying Lori Welling in 2008, the love of his life, he found renewed joy in time spent at Gwynn's Island on the Chesapeake Bay. Their annual trips to Virginia Beach were a favorite tradition, where he enjoyed laying on the beach, walking the boardwalk, visiting Ocean Eddie's, and getting a good tan.

He had a special fondness for his cat, Peekaboo, appropriately named for her missing eye.

He is survived by his wife, Lori Welling; his children, Rene Welling; Rochelle Ford; Shauna Roberts (Austin); and John Mark Welling (Kimberly); his stepchildren, Burgundy Tolle (Billy), Courtney Bartley, and Trent Bartley; and his grandchildren, Nathaniel Darm (Catelyn), Leah Shrodek, Ava Ford, Caleb Ford, Charlie Roberts, Ella Welling, Lincoln Welling, Isla Bartley, Elise Bartley, Kayleigh Tolle, Karleigh Tolle; and seven additional grandchildren, Kohler, Keira, Kahrin, Kent, Karianna, Kyson and Kamberlynn. He is also survived by his siblings, Joy Jones (Doug), James Welling (Pamela), Jane Mallon (Henry), Jocelyn Cook (Gerald), and Michael Welling (Linda), and shared a close relationship with Lori's parents, Larry and Alicia Britain.

He was preceded in death by his parents and by his stepson, Seth, in 2020.

Fellowship will begin at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, February 21, 2026 at Leesburg Trinity Church. A Celebration of Life service will follow at 12:30 p.m., with lunch afterward.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to QK Children's Home, an orphanage in Africa that John and Lori supported and served during their most recent mission trip. Donations may be made by check or money order payable to Leesburg Trinity Church with "QK Children's Home" noted in the memo line and mailed to 117 Church St, Leesburg, OH 45135.

Life celebration will be live streamed. Church website is www.leesburgtrinity.org. Church facebook page is www.Facebook.com/LeesburgTrinity