Leon "Link" Welch

HUDSON FALLS -- Leon "Link" Welch, 87, of Hudson Falls passed away on Aug. 31, 2005, at Glens Falls Hospital, after a long battle with heart and lung disease.

Link was born on April 5, 1918, in Hudson Falls, to the late Frederick and Lydia (Drew) Welch.

He graduated from Hudson Falls High School in 1937, where he played basketball and was on a championship football team.

Link was in the United States Army Air Corp during World War II, where he served his country with pride in Burma and China.

He married Lucille LaCarte in Hudson Falls on Feb. 12, 1949.

After World War II, he worked in the foundry at the Sandy Hill Iron and Brass in Hudson Falls. Thirty years later, he retired from that company.

During his life, he lived in Hudson Falls on Allen Street and later Preston Street. At the time of his death, he lived on the Adamsville Flats, with his daughter and son-in-law, Sandy and Bob Clary.

Link enjoyed fishing, bowling, camping at Hadlock Pond and feeding squirrels.

He was predeceased by his loving wife, Lucille. Link stated, "if someone should ask when did Link die, tell them Saturday, March 31, 1990 - 3:00 a.m. - Glens Falls Hospital, when his beloved wife, Lucille passed away." He was also predeceased by his parents; five sisters, Alice Bentley, Connie Vaughn, Mary Norton, Olive Colvin and Doris Fish; and his brother, Melvin Welch.

Link is survived by his two daughters, Sally Carota and her husband, Robert, of Mount Pleasant, S.C. and Sandra Clary and her husband, Robert, of Adamsville; 11 grandchildren, Diane Dickson and her husband, Mark, of South Carolina, Karen De jong and her husband, Frank, of South Carolina, Kathy Nagel and her husband, Ken, of South Carolina, Robert Carota of Fort Edward, John Carota of Castleton, Beth Carota of South Carolina, Christopher Clary of South Glens Falls, Lorrie Irish and her husband, Jim, of Hudson Falls, LeeAnn Beckwith and her husband, Mike, of Queensbury, Robin Clary of Hudson Falls, Sandra Jean Stanton and her husband, Gary, of Hudson Falls; 21 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and many nieces, nephews and cousins, including his very special nephew, Robert Joseph Platt and his wife, Kathy, of Adamsville.

Friends may call on Saturday, Sept. 3, from 12 noon to 2 p.m. at Carleton Funeral Home, Inc., 68 Main St. in Hudson Falls.

Funeral services will follow at 2 p.m. at the funeral home, with the Rev. Donald Shuler officiating. Burial will follow at St. Paul's Cemetery in the town of Kingsbury with Military Honors provided by American Legion Post No. 574.

Link's family suggests that memorial donations be made to the Hudson Falls American Legion Post 574, 72 Pearl St., Hudson Falls, NY 12839 or the Double H Hole in the Woods Ranch, 97 Hidden Valley Road, Lake Luzerne, NY 12846.