Ray J. Welty

Ray J. Welty (Major, USAF, retired) died peacefully on Thursday, March 22, 2012 after a lengthy battle with Parkinson's disease. His wife, Patricia Wall Welty, and his daughter, Cathy Welty Parks, were by his side at the end. Ray loved his family and his country. He devoted his career to protecting our national security. He was born on October 17, 1920, in Brownwood, Texas and moved to Roswell, New Mexico at age 15. He joined the Army in 1941 and later entered the Army Air Corps. He received his glider pilot wings in Lubbock, Texas, in February 1944. He flew a glider into Holland during Operation Market Garden and considered that mission his most outstanding wartime achievement. The Dutch government awarded Ray and his fellow glider pilots the Orange Lanyard of Valor, its highest honor. He also was awarded the Air Medal for service during Market Garden. After the war, Ray became a career Air Force officer. As an electronics warfare officer, he flew combat reconnaissance missions for SAC throughout the world. He retired in 1961 and obtained his BS degree in physics and math from Southwest Texas State University. He then joined the CIA as an electronics engineer. In 1966, he transferred to the Electronics Security Command in San Antonio and while there, earned his MS degree in engineering administration from St. Mary's University. For outstanding achievements at ESC, he was awarded the prestigious Meritorious Civilian Service Medal. He retired in 1990 as the senior engineer at ESC. Ray then devoted himself to travel with Patricia and participated in several organizations. At the time of his death, he was National Wing Commander for the National WW II Glider Pilots Association; past president and Melvin Jones Fellow in the Lion's Club of Garden Ridge, Texas; Mensa member; lifetime member of IEEE, Old Crows and Military Officers Association. Ray loved to fly and was an instrument-rated private pilot and a certified flight instructor. In addition to his wife and daughter (and her husband, Scott Parks), Ray is survived by a niece and her husband, Lee and Klaus Koch; a sister; four grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and 2 great nieces. SERVICE MONDAY, MARCH 26, 2012 1:30 P.M. PORTER LORING MORTUARY NORTH CHAPEL The Rev. Dr. Raymond Judd will officiate. Interment with Full Military Honors will follow in Mission Burial Park North.