Franklin----Raymond E. Welch, Jr., Longtime resident of Plymouth and recently of The Golden Crest in Franklin, passed away on Tuesday, July 25, 2017 at the age of 98. Raymond was the oldest child of Raymond E. Welch and Wyoma Mildred (Witham) Welch, born in Ashland, NH.
Raymond started working as a machinist in the Groveton paper mills in 1936. Joining the WWII effort he enlisted in the US Navy, and upon completing boot camp he was assigned as an instructor at the Sachuest Point Rifle Range in Newport, RI. He remained stationed there for the duration of WWII. Honorably discharged from the US Navy at the end of the war he resumed his employment at Groveton Mills until 1951 when he became a member of the NH State Police. He served as a NH State Trooper from October 8, 1951 until July 14, 1963. In 1963 he became Police Chief at Plymouth, NH where he served until 1967. He was then appointed Director of Physical Plant at Plymouth State College, from which he retired in 1980. He has been a resident of Golden Crest since 2002.
Raymond was predeceased by his spouse Beatrice M. Lowe, two of his sons; Douglas Raymond Welch and Robert Edward Welch, both sisters Mildred G. Bean and Virginia M. Sanborn. He is survived by his son Stephen C. Welch and wife Patti of Wentworth, NH, his two brothers Harry and wife
Patricia Welch of Meredith and Frederick and wife Constance Welch of Laconia, his daughter in law Ann Dyment Welch of Sanbornton, NH, and his step daughter Lynda Jablonski and husband Jack of Bedford and step son Michael Hartman and wife Catherine of Dover, NH.
Calling Hours will be Tuesday, August 1, 2017 from 5:00pm until 8:00pm at the Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia using the Carriage House entrance.
A Masonic service will be held at 7:00pm.
Interment of his ashes will be at Riverside Cemetery in Plymouth on Wednesday, August 2, 2017 at 10:30am.
For those who wish, the family suggests memorial contributions may be made to a charity of ones choosing.
Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation services 164, Pleasant Street, Laconia is assisting the family with the remains. For more information and to view an online memorial please visit www.wilkinsonbeane.com.