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Luke
posted by Luke A Welch @ 3:20 PM
8 comments
Celebrating the Life of Don Welch
Don Welch (Dec 20, 1952 - May 14, 2006)
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Please send your memories of Don's life by clicking on the comment button on any entry. Once I receive the comment, I will add it as a blog entry. Thanks for your love.
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Saturday, May 13, 2006
Luke
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8 Comments:
My strongest memories of Don, other than his amazing intelect, talent for and appreciation of art and music, revolve around his sense of humor. He had a wicked sense of humor. I will miss his stories and recollections of the many colorful characters and personalities we worked with in the title business. I'll have my "Don" stories to tell friends and family, but they would be better told in the first person. My deepest sympathy to Janet, Luke, David and all of Don's family.
My dear friend that for years I have admired and valued his opinion might not be in the cubicle next to me, but will forever be in my heart. Don's wisdom and compassion amazed me! We could go on and on about Jeopardy, The Beatles, astronomy, his "boys", his wonderful wife, Janet, and being a proud grandpa.
The stories he would tell were mesmerizing. I told him once he needed to write a book! I have never met such a kind, smart, compassionate person as Don. I believe in all the years I have known him, I saw him get really mad ONCE! and don't get him started on Politics, that conversation would end only because it was time to go home!!
I am a very fortunate person to have met such a wonderful person with such a loving family. He taught me so many things, but the one phrase I remember most him saying recently was "pay it forward". I will and I miss you.
Your friend and co-worker,
Margie Aguirre
After reading all the posted comments by his sons, Margie and Joe, all of this stirs up so many memories of the 20 years we spent together as a title family.
Don was all they said he was and much more. He could make us all of laugh with just one simple, quiet comment or observation. The conversations we had about his life experiences left you wanting to know more and more every time.
In my 20 years with Don I only saw him mad twice and he even cursed (mildly, maybe couple of words) I thought for sure he had learned quite a few curse words from me over the years. Don was my calmer, objective listener, friend, coworker, mentor and confidant. We could solve the world's problems over and over again each day, sometimes we agreed and sometimes we did not. Didn't matter to us as long as we could keep talking about them.
One funny story that I remembered this week was when Don went out to do an on site property inspection, he was walking around this commercial piece property and a man down on his luck, possibly homeless was walking around the property talking up a storm to himself and Don, not sure what he was saying the whole time, Don listened patiently and the man finally handed him something and said you need this, you really, really need this and it was a screw. Don laughed and told me I don't what that means I need this? Does it mean I am screwed or I will be screwed? He never forgot that man and not long ago he even showed me the screw the man gave him. He always gave a helpful hand to so many down on their luck.
Don spent countless hours at the office many of those were late at night when all the yammering women had gone home and he could have true peace and quiet to get his files finished. I knew anytime between 11pm and 4am, I could call the office and he would answer "Stewart Title" remaining professional even in the wee hours of the morning. He listened to me whine about something, comforted me and guided me toward the answer I was seeking. Always attentive and objective.
Don always had some Great Title Stories of the past, when he told them, it was like being at the movie theater watching them.
I love my friend, Don and vow to stand beside his family for the rest of my life helping any of them as best I can. Over the past years and especially past few weeks I have gotten to know his family and I know now why Don was a great person, husband, father, son, brother, etc. because he was part of a family that truly love and respect each other.
This has been the hardest loss I have ever experienced in my 44 years, I will miss him but I know he is now healed as he told me he would be when he passed. I was honored to spend sometime talking with Don before he passed, I will cherish those last words forever.
I had the privilege of growing up with Don as a fellow Missionary Kid in Brazil. Some of my first memories of Don were his amazing musical abilities, especially on the guitar. I still remember going over to his house (we might have been 15 or so) with Johnny Musgrave to hear Don play every song on the latest Beatles album. When he recorded some of them on an old 8-track machine, we were floored at the quality. And Don always lived with a sense of joy in his life.
As we grew older and went off to college and got married, we saw each other less but when we were able to spend an evening with Janet and him (and the boys) it was like we had just been together. And he always smiled and genuinely enjoyed life.
Finally, our own children grew up and went to college and got married and had children and years would pass between visits. But the last time I remember visiting with Don, he was still smiling and still living with joy.
I weep as I type because my circle of cohort from my youth is now smaller and we are poorer, yet we are richer for having known and loved Don...and I smile and enjoy life remembering Don.
As a fellow MK (Missionary Kid), Don has been in my life since 1963 when his parents went to Brazil as missionaries. We were not extremely close friends since my family lived in another state, but the families saw each other about 2 times a year when we would gather for the Brazilian Baptist Convention and the Missionary Family Meetings. I came to know Don and Janet as a couple in 1980 when my MK husband, Jay and I moved to Fort Worth. The memory that comes to mind is from a picture I have of Luke sitting in the middle of our water bed in our home. For many years we would meet up for July 4th fireworks on the Trinity River. It was always so good to catch up on what was going on in their lives and that of the boys.
Thinking of Don I see an even tempered man, a loving husband and father, a man concerned with those around him, a musician (guitar), and a friend. I'm sorry for our loss here on earth, but rejoice for Don, that he is in heaven with our heavenly father.
Janet, Luke, David, A. Hattie, U. Norvel, Deb, Libby and Larry, Jay and I continue to pray that the Lord will sustain you in these times of separation.
Naomi and Jay Key
I am part of Don's Stewart Title family. He has taught many examiners of his knowledge and experience over the years. He was a wonderful mentor to me. Don & I talked about his astronomy trips often. He really enjoyed being able to get out there and view the skies. Don was a very smart, patient, and funny man. One Halloween we decided to dress up in costume at work. I decided to dress up as Don. I showed up in a plaid shirt, blue jeans and brown shoes carrying an astronomy book (since he is always walking downtown with a book for lunch). I got a laugh out of Don. He was a great sport about it. I'll never forget the man in plaid. I have learned a lot from him that I will carry with me. It was a pleasure to have known him.
Kellie Wood
I only met Don three times, I think. My parents have always been mostly uninvolved with my friends, but Luke's parents are not. Each time I met them, they wanted to know what was going on with me. Don gave me the impression that anyone who was a friend of Luke's must be someone pretty special. They were probably right.
Just thinking of Don!! Cynthia and I are at our new office, the Texas Motor Speedway, and it is Saturday, May 19th, and realized it has been over a year and miss him so much!! We think of Janet, Luke, David and their wives and of course the grandkids and hope all are doing well!
Love,
Margie and Cynthia
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