Lieutenant Richard Lewis Welch

Lieutenant Richard Lewis Welch, 82, passed away on Saturday, March 21, 2009 at the Northampton Manor Health Care Center. He was the husband of Alice(Alma) Nevin Welch whom he married in London in 1951.

Born February 5, 1927 in Columbus, OH, he was the son of the late Lewis and Elsie (Barber) Welch. He was also preceded in death by his sister, Mary Jean. He attended the University of Ohio.

Richard entered the United States Navy in 1944, serving in the South Pacific at the height of World War II. He served on the USS LST 1028 which on January 10, 1945 was hit by a torpedo during the U.S. invasion of Luzon in the Philippines. He received commendation for taking action to keep the ship sea worthy. He then went on to serve on the USS Nevada from 1945 -46 and was present at the Bikini Bomb Tests (Operation Crossroads), the testing of the nuclear bomb.

From 1946 until 1951 he served on the US Columbus.

After the war, Lt Welch served in London, Naples, Italy, and taught in the Department of Naval Science at the University of Ohio. He returned to Naples and served as Executive Officer of the USS Mattabesset from 1957-59. During the years of 1959 to 1961 he served at NATO Command in Naples and in 1961 went on to work at the Pentagon where he was honorable discharged from active service in 1963.

Richard continued to serve in US Naval Intelligence at the Pentagon from 1963-82 both as United States Naval Officer and civilian; culminating in his assignment as the Director of Security Policy Division of Naval Intelligence.

He was awarded the United States Navy Meritorious Civilian Service Award on June 22, 1970 given by the Chief of Naval Operations. He also received the National Intelligence Medal of Achievement awarded for exceptional service on March 1, 1983 given by then CIA Director William Casey.

After retirement from Naval Intelligence he served as President of Avanco International which provided management consulting and policy analysis services to the Department of Defense.

A man of faith, he was a communicant and active member of Saint Pius X Parish in Bowie, MD for many years, and until his death, at St. John the Evangelist parish in Frederick, MD. Richard volunteered at St. Vincent de Paul Society, served on SPX, parish council and was a Scout Master and troop leader of Boy Scout Troop 730.
Besides his wife Alice, survivors include his children; Mary Bowers and husband James of Crofton, MD, Rev. Father Richard L. Welch, CSSR of New York, and Teresa Wiggins and husband Frederick of Holly Springs, NC; three grandchildren, Jason, Sean and Brian; a sister, Nancy Costa of Arizona.

The family would also like to thank the doctors and nurses at Frederick Memorial Hospital and the staff and caregivers at Northampton Manor Health Care Center for their kindness and loving care that Richard received from them.

Visitation: The family will receive friends on Tuesday from 6 until 8 PM at the Stauffer Funeral Home, 1621 Opossumtown Pike, Frederick, where a Rosary and prayer vigil will be offered at 7:00 PM.

Services: A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, March 25, 2009 at 11:00 AM at St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church, 112 East Second Street, Frederick, MD with Father Richard L. Welch as celebrant. Burial with military honors will follow in the St. John Church Cemetery.

Memorials may be offered to the St. Vincent de Paul Society,112 East Second Street, Frederick, MD