Max Welton

BRANDON - Max Welton, age 94, died peacefully at home Sunday evening, Dec. 4, 2016.
While it will seem too sudden to those who saw him around town only weeks prior, he had entered hospice care after a sharp decline. He used his heart his whole life to its full capacity, and "left it all on the field."
Max was born on July 14, 1922, in Staten Island, New York, the third of five siblings. He served in the 86th Naval Construction Battalion during WWII, seeing duty in Alaska and Okinawa.
Max married Miriam "Mim" Barden on June 19, 1954, in Staten Island. He and Mim moved to Brandon within a few years, where he worked in construction. Max built things most of his life, working on everything from electrical towers and power plants to houses and birdhouses. He was also a passionate artist, although he never exhibited his work. While many of you have seen his birdhouses and other sculptures at the library auction, few know that he was also a lifelong artist, painting in acrylic, oil and watercolor, and drawing in pen and ink. We hope to show a sampling of his art work at his memorial.
He was an enthusiastic supporter of the Brandon Public Library, our civil liberties, education, the Brandon Town Hall project and the environment. Please feel free to support those causes in his honor.
Max is survived by his four children Wendy Lee, Max Kenneth, Bernie Russell and Larry Jacob; his brother, William Ralph Welton; as well as many grandchildren, great-grandchildren; and a great many friends that he considered family. He was predeceased by his wife in 1996.
A celebration of his life gathering will take place Friday, Dec. 16, 2016, from 4-6 p.m. in the Miller and Ketcham Funeral Home, 26 Franklin St., Brandon.