Richard D. Welker

1935 - 2023

Richard D. Welker, 87, of Bethel, formerly of Pottsville, passed away Sunday, Aug. 20, 2023, while in hospice home care in Lancaster, surrounded by the love of family.

Born Dec. 4, 1935, in Pottsville, he was a son of the late Francis E. and Fern Lolita (Traxler) Welker, of Saint Clair.

He was a 1953 graduate of Saint Clair Area High School and graduated from Penn State University in 1962 with a B.S. in mechanical engineering.

Richard served in the Navy from 1954-57 during the Korean War, spending time aboard the submarine SSR-267 USS PomPon, and remained active with his boat's Alumni Association.

He was employed by General Dynamics Electric Boat in Groton, Conn.; Atlas Chemicals in Mertztown; Goodyear; and Reneer Films in Auburn, where he retired in 1991.

He was a member of the United Methodist Church; National Rifle Association; Saint Clair American Legion Post 719; Schuylkill Lodge 128 F&AM, Orwigsburg; Rajah Temple of Reading; and Orwigsburg Lions.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Almenia (Evans) Welker, in 1998.

Loved by all his children, he is survived by a son, Frank E. Welker, of Pine Grove; three daughters, Kimberly A. Heck and her husband, Edward D., of West Hempfield Twp., Karen S. Pattison and her husband, Steven K., of Apex, N.C., and Kelli R. Shaner and her husband, William P., of New Ringgold. He was a beloved grandfather of nine and great-grandfather of six.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Aug. 28, from Bruce T. Hart Funeral Home, 110 N. Second St., Saint Clair, with Pastor Rick Kanter officiating. Friends may call from 10 to 11 a.m. Monday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758516, Topeka, KS 66675-8516, woundedwarriorproject.org. Burial with military honors will be in Schuylkill Memorial Park, Garden of the Apostles, Schuylkill Haven. Condolences can be sent at www.brucethartfuneralhome.com.