Richard F. Welch of Dearborn, Michigan was born on April 24, 1924.  He died on Monday, July 31, 2006 at age 82.

He was a veteran who served in the U.S. Naval Medical Corps during World War II.

He was a science teacher at Stevensville (Mich.) High School from 1950 to 1953 and Dearborn High School from 1953 until his retirement in 1986. He also taught at Henry Ford Community College during the last 10 years of his career. He mentored many students who have excelled in the fields of chemistry, medicine, pharmacy, physics, dentistry and teaching. In 1968 he was named the first “Michigan’s Outstanding Chemistry Teacher” by the Michigan Chemical Council and Manufacturing Chemists Association. Among many other honors, he was chosen as the only American secondary science teacher to attend the Eighth Annual International Thomas Edison Birthday Celebration in Tokyo, Japan. He was also co-author of the textbook General Physical Science.

He guided dozens of high school students to Hope. In 1973 the college honored him with the Distinguished Alumni Award. In 2002, in recognition of his influence on their lives, former students of his and friends raised funds to name a teaching laboratory in the new A. Paul Schaap Science Center for him and also to establish the Richard and Gloria Welch Endowed Scholarship.

He was an active member of the Allen Park Presbyterian Church.

Survivors include his wife of almost 56 years, Gloria Welch; a daughter, Barbara; sons, Richard and Jeffrey; four grandchildren; broth- ers, Eugene of Stevensville and Lynn of Bridgman, Mich.; and a sister, Donna (Bruce) Chambers of Dearborn.

Source:  1971 Pioneer Yearbook

Source:  1970 Pioneer Yearbook

Source:  1969 Pioneer Yearbook

Source:  1969 Pioneer Yearbook