Thomas Edward Welch

Thomas Edward Welch, 77 of West Chester, PA passed away peacefully on November 7, 2025, surrounded by his loving family.

Born on May 10, 1948 in Detroit, Michigan, Tom was the 3rd of 5 children, and the only son of Kathryn Cecile (Graessle) Welch and Thomas Dale Welch.

Tom grew up in Harper Woods, Michigan, and graduated from Harper Woods High School. He had numerous friends and was fun-loving and popular. As a result of a tragic motorcycle accident in 1966, Tom suffered a traumatic brain injury and was in a coma for 7 weeks. Subsequently, he lived a life of challenges and accomplishments! His positive attitude, toughness, determination and resilience allowed him to make progress no one believed possible, and he inspired all who had the pleasure of knowing him.

Tom worked for Butcher Boy Meats in St. Clair Shores, Michigan for almost 20 years, and he was able to purchase a home and live independently for many years. Following a 2nd serious accident in 1996, Tom was no longer able to live on his own. He moved to PA in 1997 where his sister Janice Drury lived. She was able to get him the medical treatment needed to allow him to live a meaningful life for the next 28 years. With 24-hour care by loving caregivers (to include his sister Jan and niece Sandi), Tom lived in his own condo and then an apartment for over 22 years. Tom kept busy with fishing trips, local outings to flea markets and car shows (he loved classic Fords), sightseeing, family gatherings, and even a cruise to Nova Scotia. He composed letters on his computer, spent time with his clock-making hobby and made new friends wherever he went. Tom was friendly and kind and he never lost his incredible sense of humor. Even at the end of his life, Tom could make his family, friends and caregivers laugh: (how do you feel, Tom… "with my hands"; or how did you sleep, Tom, "with my eyes closed".)

Tom is survived by his devoted sister, Janice (Welch) Drury, her husband Donald Drury, her daughters, Sandra Terry Everett and Elizabeth Muirhead, their children, Garrett Thomas, Wren Muirhead and Matthew Muirhead, his brother James Welch, his beloved step-mother Ana (Buitrago) Welch, his life-long friend, Robert (Bob) Rebecca, sisters Linda Welch and Sandra Welch, along with many nieces and nephews in Michigan. Tom was predeceased by his beloved sister, Vivian Louise Welch.

A celebration of Tom's life followed by a luncheon will be held on Friday, November 21, 2025, at 11:30 a.m. at Sullivan House in Hershey's Mill, 1500 Greenhill Rd., West Chester, PA.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, or The Brain Trauma Foundation, causes close to Tom's and his family's hearts.

"He was a light in our lives, a treasure beyond measure, and his memory will remain forever in our hearts."