Harold O. Welsh Jr.

Harold O. Welsh Jr. March 28, 1931 - April 01, 2009 Harold O. Welsh Jr., 78, of Columbus, Indiana, died Wednesday, April 1, 2009, at 1:50 p.m. at Hospice of South Central Indiana Inpatient Facility. Harold was born in Ottumwa, Iowa on March 28, 1931, the son of Harold Oscar Welsh Sr. and Ruth Marie Atkinson Welsh. He married Marcella Marie Ellis August 28, 1955. He earned a Bachelors Degree from Anderson College, a graduate degree from Ball State University, and studied aerospace at Lock Haven College. Harold was in the U.S. Army and served in Japan during the Korean War. Harold did his early teaching at Winamac, Anderson, and Pendleton High Schools where he taught Industrial Arts and acted as cross-country, track, and basketball coach. Harold was an active member and past Chairman of District 7 of the Indiana Industrial Education Association. He taught adult education classes in lapidary and helped to organize and is a past president of the White River Gem Society. Harold was among the inaugural teachers at the opening of Columbus East High School and was an Industrial Arts educator there for 19 years. In addition to his regular involvement with the athletic program at CEHS, he also served as golf coach for several years. He served as chairman for District 14 of the Indiana Technology Educators Association for several years and was on the advisory committee for plastics mold making at Vincennes University. He is a past president of the Society of Plastics Engineers. He was an active member of the NEA, ISTA, CEA, AIAA, the Experimental Aircraft Association, Phi Delta Kappa, and Epsilon Pi Tau. Harolds list of achievements was long, but not as long as his list of interests and hobbies. Harold loved golf, basketball, and NASCAR racing. Harold loved lapidary and jewelry making, photography and flying. He may be best remembered for his ability to turn industrial junk into beautiful art through his metal sculpture. He was a past president of Art Columbus and was an active member of the arts community. Harold faithfully attended the First Baptist Church of Columbus. Harold is preceded in death by his talented and beautiful wife Marcella Marie Welsh. He is survived by 3 sisters and 3 brothers and his two sons: Eric (Lisa) Welsh of Anderson, IN. and Kevin (Chanda) Welsh of Columbus. He is also survived by the joy of his life, his beautiful granddaughter Sabrina Marie Welsh. Funeral Information VISITATION: Visitation will be Sunday, April 5, 2009 from 1:00pm-4:00pm at the Jewell-Rittman Family Funeral Home in Columbus. FUNERAL: The funeral service will be held at the First Baptist Church of Columbus at 11:00am on Monday, April 6, 2009 with Rev. Daniel Cash officiating. BURIAL: Burial will be at Garland Brook Cemetery. DirectionsVisitation: Map to Funeral Home

Harold O. Welsh Jr.

March 28, 1931 - April 1, 2009