Floyd R. Welch

Floyd Royden Welch of East Lyme, CT, passed quietly at home on August 17, 2020.

Floyd was born on February 1, 1921 in the picturesque town of Whigville, CT to Mary Izola Markham and was predeceased by his younger sister Audrey Perry.

After attending primary schools in the New London County area, he attended Chapman Technical School. Joining the Navy in March 1940, he was assigned to the battleship USS Maryland. The fleet was changing home ports from Long Beach, CA to Pearl Harbor Territory, Hawaii. The USS Maryland was one of the surviving, yet severely damaged, battleships bombed on Sunday, December 7, 1941 during the attack by Japanese submarines and aircraft which propelled the United States into WWII. Floyd remained on this battleship for the next four years for a total of six years in the service. He was discharged at Pier 9 in Seattle, Washington on January 18, 1946 after rising to the class of Electrician’s Mate First Class (EM1C) and receiving several medals including the: American Defense Medal, the WWII Victory Medal, the American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal (3 Stars), Good Conduct Medal and the United States Navy Constitution Medal.

After leaving the Navy, while employed as an alarm installer with ADT Alarms & Security Systems, Floyd was joined in marriage with Olive Marjorie Scott in a double wedding held in East Lyme, CT [together with Marjorie’s sister Esther and her husband Robert Duffy] on November 24, 1946 The couple eventually settled on the lovely Hickory Lane Farm in East Lyme where they initially raised Guernsey cows. Floyd both sold the milk and worked as a driver for Radway’s Dairy - picking up milk cans at the neighboring farms and delivering them to New London.

Floyd then built up and established Welch & Son Construction, surveying and building road infrastructures, foundations, and drainage systems throughout CT and the neighboring states. The team worked on such developments and projects as Laurel Hill and Yale University Outdoor Education Center.

Floyd was an avid sailor and belonged to the Niantic Bay Yacht Club enjoying many sailboat races and the friendships developed between the crew members on different yachts. He also served as an officer with both the Land Improvement Contractors of America (LICA) and the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association for many years. Additionally, he enjoyed serving on various committees for the Tri-State Horseshow Gymkhana Association as his daughter entered her horse into many of the competitions for several years. Floyd was also an active speaker at numerous local schools and VFWs regarding his military career and was honored to be in the annual local parades. He was awarded two Honor Flights: one to Hawaii for the 75th Pearl Harbor Survivors Memorial Ceremony and the other to Washington DC to view the WWII Memorial. He was deeply touched and honored by these generous gifts and tributes and spoke of them often.

Family:

Floyd is survived by his wife (Olive) Marjorie;

Daughter Sharon and Son-in-law Jim Mayer; daughter Janet Welch and son-in-law William Strosahl; Son Craig Welch and daughter-in-law Marlene; daughter Laurie and son-in-law John Broglio; daughter Pamela and son-in-law Steven Beck; son Brian Welch and daughter-in-law Kim.

Grandchildren: Eric Mayer (predeceased), Jason Mayer (predeceased), Sarah Becker; Lynn Rosenstock, Leigh Olesen; Nathan Welch, Morgan Welch; Matthew Broglio, Angela Broglio; Hannah Jones, Catherine Beck, Jennifer Beck, Laura Beck; Elena Welch, Michael Welch.

Great Grandchildren:

Alexis and Braden; Jacob and Sarah; Parker and Rylynn; Liam and Kali; Samuel and David

A graveside service will be held for the immediate family.

In lieu of flowers, donations made in the memory of Floyd R. Welch, to The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. (SPCA) are appreciated.

Eternal Father, Strong to Save (The Naval Hymn)

By William Whiting

Eternal Father, Strong to Save,

whose arm does bind the restless wave,

Who bids the mighty ocean deep

Its own appointed limits keep;

O hear us when we cry to Thee

For those in peril on the sea.

O Trinity of love and pow’r,

Your children shield in danger’s hour;

From rock and tempest, fire, and foe,

Protect them where-so-e’er they go;

Thus evermore shall rise to Thee

Glad hymns of praise from land and sea.