BANGOR – John H. Welch passed away Jan. 14, 2005, in the home where he lived most of his life following a long illness. John was born Dec. 9, 1952, in Bangor the son of Bernard P. and Natalie (Harvey) Welch. John attended St. John’s Elementary School and graduated in 1972 from John Bapst High School. John’s adult life was spent in service to his community as an officer of the Bangor Police Department. John followed in the footsteps of his father and uncle and joined the department in 1974. John worked in various assignments in the Patrol and Detective Divisions, and retired in 1994 as a Patrol Sergeant on the 2nd shift. Following retirement, John was employed as a driver for Henry’s Formal Wear of Bangor. John was chosen by the Maine Chief’s of Police Association to be awarded a medal of bravery for his heroic actions on Aug. 21, 1977, when he rescued a small boy who had fallen into the Kenduskeag Stream. John also received numerous department awards and commendations. John graduated the Maine Criminal Justice Academy Basic Police School in 1974, and the National Fire Academy in 1982 as a certified Arson Investigator. John is survived by two brothers and their wives, Thomas and Rhoda Welch of Elkton, Md., and Robert and his wife, Debbie, of Bangor; sister and brother-in-law, Mary and Steve Harrison of Bangor; nephews, Michael and Eric Elkton of Maryland, Ryan Welch of Bangor, David Chapman of Palm Beach, Fla.; and a niece, Kaity Welch of Bangor. John was predeceased by his nephew, Thomas Welch of Elkton, Md. John also leaves two wonderful friends, Tim Ford of Bangor and Betty Hill of Ellsworth. At John’s request a memorial service will be held in the spring at a date and time to be announced. In lieu of flowers, donations should be made to Hose 5, care of Bangor Fire Department, 289 Main St., Bangor, ME 04401-6403. Special thanks are extended to Jeannie Alvarez of Independent Medical Associates for her loving support for John and his family, and to New Hope Hospice and New England Home Health Care for their assistance in caring for John. Cremation services are entrusted to John’s friend Larry Audet at Greenlawn Funeral Home.
JOHN HAROLD WELCH
