Info Sheet/Obit - Richard S. "Dick" Welch
Died 19 October 2022
Richard “Dick” Welch, 71, of Marshalltown, Iowa, passed away on the morning of October 19, 2022 at the Iowa Veterans Home.
A celebration of life is set in place for Saturday, November 5 (please note date) at Mitchell Family Funeral home from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. At 6:00 p.m. full military honors will be presented from the VFW and American Legion Honor Guard from the Marshalltown area. He will be laid to rest at the Iowa Veterans Cemetery in Van Meter, Iowa. Memorials in Dick’s name may be made out to the Iowa River Hospice. For additional information or to send condolences to the family please visit www.mitchellfh.com or call 641-844-1234.
Richard Welch was born on July 29, 1951 to parents Theodore and Lavonne (Shrimpton) Welch in Marshalltown, Iowa. He grew up in Marshalltown where he attended school and graduated in 1970 from Marshalltown High School. After graduation, he went on to enlist with the United States Army, where he became a helicopter crew chief until 1974.
On July 23, 1977, Dick was united in marriage to Kimberlee Huss, having three wonderful children. Dick spent most of his time working on the railroad for Chicago and North Western Transportation Company before it later became the Union Pacific. When he had the chance, he loved to work on his motorcycles and cars. He was a co-owner of the go kart track and was a member of the Railroaders Association and Pony Express.
Left to cherish his memory are his three children: Sam Welch (Autumn) of Millersburg, IA, Ben Welch of Marshalltown, Amanda (Matthew) Kitzman of Conrad, IA; his former wife, Kim Welch; grandchildren: Aubrey, Austin, Piper, Tucker, and Willow; his brother, Jack (Diane) Welch of Marshalltown and his siter, Kathy Pettitt of Albion IA.
In eternal life, he is reunited with his parents and his sister Colleen Clark.
Frank Dillon: Dick passed away early this morning (19 Oct 2022) at a Veterans Home in either Des Moines or Marshaltown, Iowa. I think he came to F Troop in 2/72 with others from Phu Loi. It follows that he went to Phu Bai 4/72 and Tan My 6/72. Not sure how Quang Tri got in there unless he was saying he flew in the area. He remembered Dale Porterfield. He was a Cobra crew chief prior to being transferred to F Troop, but a UH1 crew chief in F Troop. He flew with CPT Peter Barber mostly.
Note: 2 May 1972: SP4 Dick Welch went on sick call and was replaced by SP4 Charles Morgan. Morgan and his whole crew were killed that day by an SA-7 missle.