Mr. Richard O. “Dick” Welty went home to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Thursday, February 8, 2024.
He was born Friday, July 12, 1929, at Galesburg Cottage Hospital, the son of Roscoe Orville and Kathryn Jean (Smith) Welty.
Dick spent his youth in Galesburg, Rock Island, and Monmouth. In 1950, he was drafted into the Army and spent two years in Japan as part of the Occupational Forces. Before departing overseas, he met the love of his life, Donna, at a roller-skating rink in Kewanee. After a brief courtship, they were married on August 5, 1950, at the First Baptist Church in Kewanee.
Upon returning from the service, Dick and Donna settled in Monmouth, where Dick started his career in car sales. In 1954, they moved to Galesburg as Dick took a job with Galesburg Lincoln-Mercury as a salesman and continued in that position for 41 years. While selling cars for Lincoln-Mercury, Dick achieved great success and was recognized as one of the top 10 salesman in the United States for many years for the Lincoln-Mercury Division of Ford Motor Co. After his retirement from car sales, he enjoyed working part-time for Hinchliff-Pearson-West Funeral Directors in a variety of functions. Dick enjoyed spending time with his family, projects in the garage, volunteering at Cottage Hospital, and visiting with as many people as possible. He was devoted to the Lord, his family, and his church to his last breath.
He was preceded in death by his mother and father. Those left to cherish their memories are his wife of over 73 years, Donna; sons, Rick (Sue) Welty and Brian (Shawna) Welty, both of Galesburg; a daughter, Janice Brandon of Plymouth, Michigan: five grandchildren, Megan Welty, Adam (Debbie) Welty, and Noah Welty of Galesburg, Rachel (Bobby) Hillier of Livonia, Michigan, and Kyle (Ashlyn) Brandon of Louisville, Kentucky; six great grandchildren, Fiona, Norah, and Peter Welty of Galesburg, Lilly Brandon of Louisville, and Ruby Kay and Robert Ace of Livonia; and two sisters, Beverly (Don) Phillips of Racine, Wisconsin and Sally (Jerry) Von Drake of Peoria.
A private memorial service will be held to celebrate Dick’s graduation to his heavenly home. Officiating the service will be Rev. Lee Johnson. Burial will be in Oak Lawn Memorial Garden. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Bethel Baptist Church or First Christian Church. Hinchliff-Pearson-West Funeral Directors and Cremation Services of Galesburg is honored to serve the family. Online condolences and memories may be left on the funeral home’s website at www.h-p-w.com.
