Raymond L. Welch ’59, 82, passed away on July 12, 2014. He entered the world on May 9, 1932, in San Francisco, California. His parents were Elinor Nemis and Roy Wade who gave him over to be raised by William R. Welch and Ann C Welch. He grew up in San Francisco attending St. Anne’s Grammar School. At the age of 14, he moved with his parents to Salinas where he attended Salinas High. He played on the tennis team and graduated in 1950. He went to college at Santa Clara University, and was on the college tennis team. He majored in economics. He served in the Army, attending Fort Ord and a year later served in Wertheim, Germany. Upon his return he went to work for his father in the men’s clothing business called" The Hub" in Salinas.

In 1957, he married Carolyn J Fodrini from Alameda, California. They had three children: Suzanne M., Patrick M. and Steven D. Carolyn was a legal secretary for a while in Salinas. In 1960, they left Salinas and moved to Marin County where Ray went to work for UARCO in San Francisco. They lived in Mill Valley, Fairfax and later moved to Alameda, and then bought a home in San Leandro, California, where they lived for several years. They left their home in San Leandro, to move to Napa, California, in 1970. Ray went to work for Valley Business Forms in Calistoga. He remained there until 1985 when he went into business for himself starting the Welch Co. After 44 years of marriage his wife, Carolyn, passed away in 2001.

Ray later married Virginia L. Gomes from Maryland in 2002 and they resided in the Napa Valley and were members at The Silverado Country Club. Ray and Ginny loved playing golf among many other interests. Ray was a member of the Morning Napa Rotary Club, and had belonged to Napa Valley Country Club and Green Valley Country Club. In 2007, they moved to Chewelah, Washington, to build their "dream" home on the Chewelah Golf & Country Club where they currently reside. Ray leaves behind his wife, Ginny; his three children: Suzanne (husband Stephen), Pat (wife Kelly) and Steven (wife Kate); and three grandchildren: Morgan and Austin (Pat) and Chloe (Steven).

During Ray’s young life he was a Boy Scout, an Eagle Scout and an Explorer Scout. Later, he was a member of the Junior Chamber of Commerce in Salinas, Mill Valley and San Leandro. He also worked with young teens in the Junior Achievement Program. He was also a member of the Salinas Elks Club. He also managed a Little League baseball team in Napa.