Obituary of William L. Welch

In Middletown, April 4,2010, William Lawrence Welch, 88 , of North High St., Clinton, former longtime resident of Woodward Ave., New Haven. Husband of the late Mary Nolan Welch. Father of Mary Ellen Welch Towers and husband Terrence of Clinton and Catherine Donahue and husband William of Chester, NJ. Grandfather of Trevor William Donahue, Terrence Towers Jr. and Cassandra Towers. Also survived by his twin brother James F. Welch of Branford, a nephew, James F. Welch Jr.and niece Elizabeth Ann McGuigan, Marian Evans and Nancy Welch. He was predeceased by a sister Elizabeth Ann Welch Collett and his special friend and companion Joyce Anthony. He was loved and will be missed by many friends and family members especially the Anthony family. Born March 10,1922 in New Haven a son of the late James F. and Elizabeth "Bessie" Sullivan Welch, he was a graduate of Hillhouse High School, class of 1940, received his BA degree in Education from Southern Conn. State Teachers College, his Masters degree from NYU and a six year certificate from Fairfield University. He was a teacher and educator in the New Haven School system for many years, starting out as a teacher at the Truman School. He was named principal of the Morris Cove and Cheever Schools in 1963 and later was principal at the Nathan Hale School and finally at the Woodward Ave. School from where he retired. William had a deep love for his country and was proud to have served with the US Merchant Marine during WWII as a radio operator. He was also a devout member of St. Bernadette Church in New Haven and St. Therese Church in Stony Creek. He was a past member of the CT State Teachers Association and the New Haven Principals Club. Funeral from the Clancy Funeral Home, 43 Kirkham Ave., East Haven Thursday morning at 9:30. Mass of Christian Burial in St. Therese Church, Stony Creek at 10am. Burial will follow in St. Agnes Cemetery, Branford. Friends may call Wednesday from 4 – 7 pm. Memorial contributions may be made to the Friends of the New Haven Animal Shelter, 81 Fournier St., New Haven,CT 06511