Mr. Arnold Joy Welch

Graveside services with military honors for Mr. Arnold Joy Welch, 91, of Henderson, will be held at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 6, 2023, at Lakewood Memorial Park with Rev. George Conway officiating. Interment with Masonic Rites will follow under the direction of Crawford-A. Crim Funeral Home. The family will receive friends from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, May 5, in the chapel at Crawford-A. Crim Funeral Home. Mr. Welch passed from this life on May 2, 2023, at Hospice Homeplace in Tyler surrounded by his family. He was born July 6, 1931, in the Wood Glen Community of Rusk County to the late Ezra and Erma (Rowell) Welch. Arnold was raised in Rusk County and graduated from Minden High School. He went on to join the U.S. Army where he served stateside during the Korean War. Arnold’s first posting was at Fort Chaffee in Arkansas where he met the love of his life, Dorothy Jean “Dot” Holland, at church. After his military service, he returned to the Garland area where he was a supervisor for Kraft Food Company for 16 years. He later received his insurance license and sold insurance in Garland before returning home in 1968 to work for Reliable Life Insurance Company. Arnold loved his tractors and farming; that was his Heaven on Earth. He even worked two jobs while living in Garland to buy his farm at home in Rusk County. He also had a heart for children, and it brought him joy to see their faces when he would play Santa Claus at different events. He never met a stranger and could have a conversation with anyone Mr. Welch was a 32nd degree Scottish Rite Master Mason for 63 years, having been raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason at Garland Lodge #441 AF & AM in 1959. After returning home, he affiliated with Clinton Lodge #23 AF & AM in Henderson. He was also a member of the York Rite and was a Shriner with Sharon Temple in Tyler. He was involved with volunteer work for the Shriners Hospital for Children and assisted several children in getting the help they needed from the hospital. Arnold was also a long-time member of Eastside Baptist Church in Henderson. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Dorothy Jean “Dot” Welch; son, Ricky Arnold Welch; and sisters, Doris Carpenter, O’Reta Warren, and Barbara Powell. Survivors include his children, Diana Smith and husband Carl of Henderson, Jeff Welch and wife DeeDee of Brachfield, Brad Welch and wife Tammi of Brachfield, and Sandi Griffith and husband Bruce of Pearland; 14 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren; as well as a host of nieces, nephews, other family and many friends. Pallbearers will be Jason McKey, Todd McKey, Brady Welch, Chad Welch, Colton Welch, Colby Smith, Jacob Smith, and Micah Howard. Honorary pallbearers will be Marvin Powell and Carl Smith. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Hospice of East Texas, online, at www.hospiceofeasttexas.org/give/why-donate/ or by mail at 4111 University Blvd., Tyler, TX 75701. Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www.crawfordacrim.com.

Mr. Arnold Joy Welch

July 6, 1931 - May 2, 2023