Herbert (Herb) Welch

Herbert R. (Herb) Welch, beloved husband, brother, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend passed away on January 8, 2019 at the age of 87 due to complications of Parkinson’s disease. Herb was born in Visalia, California in 1931 where he went to school and married his High School Sweetheart, Margaret Thomas in June of 1950. They had a wonderful marriage of 68 years, solemnized in the Oakland Temple in 1966. He was a member of the Visalia Masonic Lodge for many years prior to becoming a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

Herb’s working career was one of service and building. He proudly served in the Army National Guard from 1948 to 1954 reaching the rank of Sergeant First Class. Herb initially was a partner in his father’s plumbing business and then served as a fireman and EMT, a County Building Inspector and ended his career as a Deputy of the California State Contractors licensing Board. Along the way he picked up an LLB from LaSalle Extension University which served him in good stead as he worked with contractors and their clients.

After joining the Church Herb served as a Seventy and a High Priest, and counselor in a Bishopric.  He and his wife Margaret served a Family History Mission to Kane, Pennsylvania after his retirement from public service. He was an ardent family history researcher. Herb loved his family, the restored Gospel and the wonders of the Sierra Mountains. He was an accomplished mineralogist and could not pass by a child or a dog without an act of kindness. We will miss the charity and kindness of this beautiful man until we meet again. He is survived by his wife Margaret, children Caroline and Dan Hair, Audrey and Gordon Matheson, Herbert T. and Carol Welch and Daniel R. and Brigid Welch. He also leaves three sisters, Nancy Nagel, Carolyn Polly and Celia Pennebaker. His 16 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren will all miss him. He was preceded in death by his parents and a grandson, Benjamin Welch.

Funeral services will be held Monday, January 14, 2019 at 11 a.m. at Lindquist’s Layton Mortuary, 1867 No. Fairfield Road.  Friends may visit family Sunday from 6 to 8 p.m. and Monday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the mortuary.  Interment, Lindquist’s Memorial Park at Layton, 1867 No. Fairfield Road.