1940 – 2015

BROOKLYN, N.Y. — Edwin E. Welch, 75, of Columbia, Conn., passed from this life on Saturday, Dec. 19, from medical complications.

He was born in Auburn on Nov. 21, 1940, to Edward and Emily Barrett Welch. Ed graduated from Edward Little High School in 1959.

He served in the U.S. Navy from 1959 to 1961. He worked for the U.S. Postal Service starting in 1967 and rose to postmaster of the Storrs Post Office and retired in 2002. Ed received numerous awards for recognition from the U.S. Postal Service. He remained with the U.S. Postal Service as a consultant for special projects.

He was a lifetime member of the Willimantic Elks BPOE 1311. Ed loved volunteering at the soup kitchen, Florida sunrises, traveling the world with his wife, especially Tahiti, playing golf and cribbage, all of the seasons, skiing and swimming. He was an avid reader and enjoyed joking with family and friends, and Ed especially enjoyed Elk’s bingo and UCC community breakfasts. Ed was passionate and loyal and his family was his priority.

Ed is survived by his wife of 51 years, Velvet; daughter, Denna and son-in-law, Mark Chenette; grandson, William Niedzwiecki ; and granddaughters, Emily Niedzwiecki and Gabriella Chenette. He also leaves his brother, Ernest Welch and wife, Georgette; sister, Starr and brother-in-law, Carl Sward; sisters, Pam Cooper and Joyce Bickford; sisters-in-law, Norma Welch and Pat Morrell; brother-in-law, James Hansen; and countless nieces, nephews and friends.

Ed is predeceased by his brothers, Russell Morrell, Richard Welch; and sister, Bertha Hansen.

The family would like to thank the staff and nurses at the William W. Backus Hospital in Norwich, Conn., especially Dr. Anca Bulgaru.

To sign the online memorial book, please visit www.potterfuneralhome.com.