James “Jim” Byron Welch, age 87, went to be with the Lord and the love of his life, his bride of 63 years, Lorraine. Jim passed away from a broken heart on August 8, 2021 at Lourdes Hospital.
Jim was pre-deceased by his wife Lorraine Mydlo Welch 79, and son James B. Welch II, 28. Jim is survived by his daughter, Luanne Welch Brill, grandsons Jeffery Burdick (Karie Burdick) and Robert Brill, great-grandson’s Caleb Brill, Brady Burdick and Grayson Burdick survive him. Jim was also pre-deceased by his parents Archie Welch and Lula Johnson, brothers Jack, Robert, Paul and sister Evelyn. He is survived by his sister Dawn (Welch) Reap of Binghamton. In addition to many other nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, Jim is survived of his sister-in-law Michalene (Mydlo) Smith and brother-in-law Robert Smith of Harpursville, brother-in-law Thomas Mydlo and sister-in-law AnneMarie Mydlo of Clermont, FL.
Jim was a Military Veteran of 22 years of service to his country. Jim joined the Marines in 1956, where he spent two years and then the next 20 years as an Instructor in the Army Corp of Engineers. Jim fought in The Korean War and served twice in Viet Nam. After an honorable discharge and retirement as a Staff Sargent, Jim became a Veteran in 1976. Jim decided to move his family to sunny Florida and begin early retirement. Over the next years Jim worked with his brother Paul in the fencing industry, he attended air conditioning classes and slowly but surely became the home caretaker while his wife worked.
While in the military, Jim and Lorraine would be separated by assignment, but always managed to keep their love alive. After retiring from the military, they took road trips, traveling throughout the U.S. and ventured to new places, including their favorite vacation spot, Las Vegas. Jim and Lorraine also enjoying going on cruises to Panama, Mexico and tropical islands. Jim enjoyed fishing, was a low-key gambler and lover of gag gifts such as Big Mouth Billy Bass, the Burping Beer Mug and anything Garfield.
The Allen Memorial Home, 511-513 East Main Street, Endicott, will host services on Friday, August 20, 2021 at 1:00 pm. Following a military funeral, Jim’s family will fly him to Florida to be with his beloved.