Born September 4, 1929 in Kay Moor, West Virginia, Dee was raised with her two brothers Albert and
Eugene at the Masonic Home in Parkersburg, West Virginia after the death of their father in 1935.
During her senior year of Montgomery High School, she met and eventually married her beloved
husband, best friend and soul mate, Francis Howard Welch. After living briefly in Kentucky and
Indiana, they finally settled in Old Bridge NJ where they raised their four children.
Although a "Homemaker", Dee actively encouraged and participated in her children's activities, such
as joining the PTA, being a chaperone for many school events, trips and overnight camps, attending
baseball games, competitions, school concerts and plays, and being a Girl Scout Leader. She was
facinated with astronomy and made a point of gazing up at the sky each night to check out the moon
and the stars, especially when a meteor shower was scheduled. She was an exremely honorable,
generous, friendly and kind woman, and instilled the importance of kindness and compassion for all
beings - including the birds, squirrels and neighborhood cats who often found a tasty meal in their
back yard. She always maintained positivity, even in the midst of adversity or struggle. She regularly
made donations to certain organizations she felt dearly about, including the Wounded Warrior
Project, as her husband was a decorated and wounded World War II Veteran, both her brothers
served in the US Navy and all of her husband's brothers served the U.S. in either the Army or, like his
youngest brother, Special Conservational Officer with the West Virginia Division of Natural
Resources
Dee was an avid bowler and served as a director of the Central Jersey Women's Bowling
Association, being inducted into their Hall of Fame in 2002 for Meritorious Service. She also served
as a director of the NJ State 500 Club, was a Secretary of the Central Jersey 500 Club, and served
the CJWBA as a Delegate to the Women's International Bowling Congress (now USBC). After her
husband Francis' retirement, they enjoyed trips for Dee to participate with her team members in
WIBC/USBC National Bowling Tournaments across the USA, and routed their trips to also include
visits to as many State Capitols as possible.
After losing Fran on May 10, 2017 after 68+ years of marriage, Dee moved to Port Orange FL. She
loved her new home (wishing her husband could have been there to share this lovely new place) and
she enjoyed the weekly bingo night. And because Dee really loved bowling and didn't want to give it
up, she was able to join two bowling leagues with her daughter Susan for two years. When Dee was
no longer able to bowl due to health problems at age 90, Susan would take her along to the weekly
bowling league so she could still watch and cheer on the other teammates and enjoyed leaving a
stash of Kit Kat bars on the bowling tables for them to enjoy. The ladies all loved her.
But most of all, she enthusiastically and regularly watched the many, many space launches out of
Cape Canaveral and Kennedy Space Center. Her late brother Albert always wanted to be an
astronaut, and he later served in the Navy, followed by three years working with the North American
Rockwell Space Division and the Appollo Spacecraft Systems, so watching those rockets light up the
sky must have given her a special comfort that he was right there experiencing it with her. Now,
when a launch takes place, or during a brilliantly lit night sky, Dee's family can look up to the sky and
gain comfort in knowing she is still there among us.
Dolores was pre-deceased by her parents, Albert O. Smith, Sr. and Allie Argabright Smith Ramsey,
and step-father Ford Ramsey, her two brothers Albert O. Smith and Eugene F. Smith, her son-in-law
Anthony Graziano, and Sisters-in-law Margaret McClellan and Thelma Smith. She is survived by her
4 children Frances A. Evanto and husband Johnny, Susan D. Graziano, Roger H. Welch and wife
Marlene, and Robin L. Welch and husband Steven. Also survived by 2 grand children Erik L. Evanto
and Jessica L. Welch, step granddaughter AnnMarie Shaner (predeceased by step granddaughters
Diana Maltese and Annette Morey), 7 step great grandchildren, and Sister-in-law Phyllis Welch, and
several nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, donations in her name may be made to your favorite charity, to the Wounded
Warrior Project, your local Veterans Chapter or to your local Hospice Chapter, and such donations
are greatly appreciated.
A private funeral service for family and friends will be held on Friday January 26th at O'Dells Funeral
Home in Montgomery West Virginia, after which Dee will be laid to rest alongside her husband Fran.
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