On September 2, 2014, Joseph H. Welch Sr., age 87, of Richland, Washington, passed away. Joe was born March 13, 1927 at Saint Mary's Hospital Amsterdam, New York to Elmer Welch and Agnes Flannagan Welch.

When Joe was 12 years old, his father used his image in the advertising for Welch's American Boy Beverages, Elmer Welch's own brand of soda pop. Joe's image was on soda pop bottles, delivery trucks, billboards, and other advertising for the American Boy brand.

Joe received his education at Saint Mary's Institute in Amsterdam New York. He left school in his junior year to become a part of America's efforts in World War II. He joined the U.S. Coast Guard in 1945 and served aboard the troop transport USS Wakefield. Joe was honorably discharged in June, 1946 after serving for 18 months and returned to complete his education. He was entitled to the American Area Medal, Victory Medal, Asiatic Pacific Area Medal, and the European African Middle Eastern Area Medal. He was initiated in a Crossing-the-Line Equator ceremony and became a Shellback.

Joe and his wife, Dorothy Jane Jasky Jaskulski were married on October 7, 1951 at Saint Casimir's Catholic Church in Amsterdam, N.Y. They lived in Amsterdam from 1951 to 1959. In 1959 Joe was transferred from the General Electric Plant in Schenectady, New York to the Hanford Nuclear Reservation outside of Richland, Washington. He worked for several contractors including General Electric, UNC-DUN, Vitro, and Westinghouse which he retired from as Mechanical Designer in April 1989. Joe and Dorothy lived in a former government "B" house in Richland. Joe is survived by his wife Dorothy and four children: David Rebecca Collins of Sedro-Woolley, Washington; Robert Alma Rodriguez of Kennewick, Washington; Patricia Welch Farris Paul Farris of Ellensburg, Washington; and Joseph Welch of Hayden, Idaho. Joe is also survived by 12 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.

Joe was a member of the Knights of Columbus Council #3307, Past President of the Columbia Basin Plateau Chapter of Certified Engineering Technicians, Usher Greeter and member of Christ the King Catholic Church in Richland.

Joe was a tenacious table tennis player. He always had a joke to tell, and would laugh with you after he told it. He had a talent for making everyone feel lighthearted and carefree. His jokes and amazing sense of humor will be greatly missed.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Charles Welch, Bernard Welch, sisters Mary Welch Boerner and Dorothy Welch Florimo.

Viewing will take place Friday evening, September 5th at Christ the King Catholic Church 1111 Stevens Drive, Richland, Washington from 5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. with Rosary at 7:00 P.M. Funeral Mass will be held at Christ the King Catholic Church at 2:00 P.M. on Saturday, September 6th. Interment to follow at Einan's Sunset Gardens, then a reception dinner back at Christ the King Catholic Church.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Kadlec Regional Medical Center Emergency Room, Intensive Care Unit, or a charity of your choosing.