Olin Welch Jr.

Olin E. Welch Jr. passed away in Corpus Christi, TX on May 6, 2009. Olin was born August 5, 1934 to Olen Earl Welch Sr. and Lura Pinkey Wood Welch in Cooper, Delta County, Texas. He was raised on a farm in Klondike, Texas and in 1953, graduated from West Delta High School. Olin worked at Phillips Supermarket and Shaw Service Station in Commerce, TX, until 1954. From 1954 to 1974 he was in the United States Army, where he retired at Ft. Hood, TX and bought a home in Copperas Cove, TX.

SFC Ret. Olin E. Welch received many awards, including: National Defense Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Army of Occupation Medal Germany, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal Korea, Good Conduct Medal with Bronze clasp, 4 Loops, Expert Rifle, MKM CBN Rifle, S M-1 Rifle Sharpshooter. SFC Welsh also received several additional Certificate of Achievement Awards for his dedication to the United States Army. SFC Welsh helped establish a Complete New Course of Training and personally wrote lessons for 20 hours of instruction. The professional military competence he displayed in discharging the duties and responsibilities of this position set a standard of leadership in the first tradition of the Non-Commissioned Officer Corps.

After retiring in 1974, he went to work at the Defense Commissary Agency in Ft. Hood, TX of which he received an award for 30 years of service from Brigadier General William A. West. He continued to work after retirement at KK Meat Company and Brooks Supermarket. He also owned a locksmith company, Welchs Locksmith Service.

SFC Welch was a soldiers soldier. He lived his life in the ways that the military taught him. In May 2008, SFC Ret. Welch moved to Corpus Christi, TX to live out the rest of his life doing what he enjoyed fishing. The past 5 years he was confined to a wheelchair due to the many health problems he had sustained over the loss of his beloved wife, Audrey in 2003. His daughter Mary and her husband Karl were his sole caregivers in his final years. SFC Ret. Welch actively participated in local groups including membership of Ethyl Eyerly Senior Center of Corpus Christi, VFW Lifetime member Post 8577, and Locksmith Association of America.
POlin leaves b

Visitation

HarperTalasek Chapel
506 N. 38th Street
Killeen, TX  76543
Monday, May 11, 2009
6 to 8 PM

Service

Graveside

Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery
11463 State Highway 195
Killeen, TX  76542
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
2:00 P.M.

Cemetery

Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery
11463 State Highway 195
Killeen, TX  76542