Thomas C. Welch

Thomas C. Welch, age 85, beloved husband of Karen Welch, died Friday, March 30, 2012, at his home in Bella Vista. He was born Aug. 23, 1926, in Glendale, Calif., to Thomas Perry & Martha (Abraham) Welch. He was raised and educated in California graduating from Glendale High School. He proudly served his country in WWII in the United States Navy as a pharmacist mate at the U.S. Naval Hospitals in San Diego and Long Beach, Calif., working with returning sailors with mental disorders. After discharge form the Navy, he attended UCLA graduated in 1950 with a BS in Business Administration. On Aug. 6, 1949, he married Retta Virginia (Ginny) Richardson at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Montrose Calif. She passed away on July 12, 1991, in Bella Vista, Ark. He worked for the Union Oil Company after graduating from UCLA; and in 1953, he began his career at Sunbeam Corporation (manufacturer of small electric appliances) as an assistant salesman in the southern California region. In 1966 he was promoted to Merchandise Manager for the Clock Division and was transferred to the headquarter office in Chicago, Ill. He went on to become Product Manager, Division Manager and then Vice President of the Clock Division. In 1976 he was promoted and was named President of Hanson Scale Co. of Schaumburg, Ill., and the Buddy-L-Grill Co. (which later became Sunbeam Leisure Products Co.) of Neosho, Mo., both wholly-owned subsidiaries of Sunbeam Corportation. In 1977, he moved Bella Vista, Ark. He was again promoted and became Chief Operating Officer for Sunbeam with four subsidiary companies reporting to him. In 1991, after 38 years with Sunbeam, he retired. On Oct. 24, 1992, he married Mrs. Karen L. (Hlavka) Fukal at Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Naperville, Illinois, and continued to make his home in Bella Vista. Tom enjoyed playing cards, world travel, loved to read and had an extensive library at home. He enjoyed all sports and played baseball in high school and after he served in the Navy. He played many rounds of golf on Bella Vista's many golf courses as well. He and his six sons established the WFFL (Welch Fantasy Football League) in which they all participated each year to see whose team would take home the coveted trophy. He also enjoyed spending time with his large family. He was a Rotarian in Neosho, Missouri. He was a founding member of St. Bernard Catholic Church in Bella Vista, and over the years was a Eucharistic minister, an usher, a lector, a fund raiser and a member of the Knights of Columbus. He was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife – Ginny Welch, a brother-in-law - Chuck Curry, and a grandson – Cody Welch. He is survived by his wife, Karen Welch, of the home, six sons and their families: Son – Michael & Sara Welch and their two children: Katie and Tommy Welch of Chicago, Ill.; Son – Steve and Cathy Welch of Washington, Ill., and their four children: Bryan and Rosa Welch of Chicago, Ill., Jennifer and Christopher Herre and their children Connor and Cailyn Herre of Shorewood, Ill., Michael and Laurie Welch and their son, Kylan of Richmond, Texas, and Lesley Welch of Peoria, Ill.; Son-Dennis Welch of Homer, Alaska, and his two stepchildren: Shawn and Megan Thomson and their daughter, Scarlett of Portland, Ore., and Maya and Ron Tuzon and their children: Madelynn and Grace Tuzon of Portland, Ore.; Son – Thomas J. Welch of Chicago, Ill., and his two children: Heather Welch of Aurora, Ill., and Jason and Jessica Welch of Decatur, Ill., and stepchildren: Heather & Peter Allen of Chicago, Ill., Megan Hines of Greenville, Miss., and Tyler Hines of West Chicago, Ill.: Son- Patrick & Peggy Welch of Aliso Viejo, Calif., and their two children: Jackie and Becky Welch both of San Francisco, Calif.; Son-Kevin and Tracy Welch and their two children: Carly and Bailey Welch of Joplin, Mo., and a sister, Lorraine Curry, of Irvine, Calif., and her daughter, Sherry and Bob Hill and family of Irvine, Calif.; family members – Cris Hines Welch of West Chicago, Ill., and Lynn Thomson of Portland, Ore.; a sister-in-law and brother-in-law – Cheryl and Gene Baker of Simpsonville, Ky., and their children; Jodi Wojcik and her two children; Savanna and Elijah of Finchville, Ky., Amy and Jared Justice of Finchville, Ky., and Douglas and Samantha Baker and their two children; Holley and Cassidy of Bolingbrook, Ill. Visitation on Sunday, April 1, beginning at 5 p.m. at the Bella Vista Funeral Home followed by the Rosary at 7 p.m. A Mass of Resurrection will be held at 10 a.m. on Monday, April 2, at St. Bernard Catholic Church in Bella Vista with Father Justin Monaghan officiating. A private interment will be held on April 3, in the columbarium on church grounds. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Bernard Catholic Church, 1 St. Bernard Lane, Bella Vista, AR, or to the Circle of Life Hospice, 901 Jones Road, Springdale, AR or a charity of the donor's choice. Arrangements are by the Bella Vista Funeral Home & Crematory, 2258 Forest Hills Blvd., Bella Vista, AR. Online condolences may be made at www.funeralmation.com.