1941 – 2013

BRUNSWICK — Jim Welch, 72, of Topsham, died at Mid Coast Hospital in Brunswick on Sunday, Dec. 15, surrounded by his loved ones.

He was born in Lewiston on Nov. 27, 1941, son of George Welch and Gerald and Marjorie Bryant. Jim attended Paris High School, graduating in 1959. He entered the U.S. Air Force that same year and served eight years.

In 1963, Jim married Jane Bean and they had one daughter, Tammy.

In 1969, Jim started his career with the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife as a district game warden and later as a warden pilot, which he loved. He retired in 1990 and joined L.L.Bean in Corporate Security, where he worked for another 12 years.

Jim loved the outdoors and spent a great deal of time hunting and fishing. Other interests included gardening, fly-tying, exploring in an RV and winters in Florida. He especially loved spending time with his grandson, Kody.

Outside of his professional career, Jim and his wife operated an apple orchard business from their property in Topsham. The business centered around selling apples, hand-pressed cider, cheese and other farmstand products to customers from all over.

Jim is survived by his wife, Jane; his daughter, Tammy, her husband, Todd Noyes and their son, Kody James, of Topsham. He is also survived by his brother, Stan and his wife, Aleta Bryant; nephews, Alan and Brian; and nieces, Karen and Lisa, all of South Paris.

Jim was predeceased by his parents; his sister, Gail Pulsifer; and his father-in law, Herman Bean. Another important person in his life was his mother-in-law, Ruth Bean.