Thomas Alexander Welch, Jr. died Monday, February 5, 2018, in Big Spring Veteran’s Administration Hospital at the age of 73. Graveside rites with military honors will be held Friday, February 9, at 2:00 PM in the Peace Chapel at Trinity Memorial Park.A family visitation will be held Thursday, February 8, from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home, 906 Gregg Street, Big Spring.He had retired from the US Army as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1990 after 24 years of service.Colonel Welch had called Big Spring his Home of Record since his family moved here in 1946. He was a 1962 graduate of Big Spring High School and earned a BBA from Texas Tech in 1972.Survivors include a daughter, Randi Ayars, and a son, Lee Welch, both of Arlington, Texas, and a grandson, Sean Ayars of Ft. Worth, a sister, Sharon Fisher of Palestine, Texas, sister-in-law Susie Welch of Big Spring, brother-in-law Phillip Riddle of San Antonio and loving companion Dottie Arnold of Brownwood.Colonel Welch was preceded in death by his father, T.A. Welch, Sr., his mother, Edwina Welch-Reagan, a brother, Jimmy Welch, all of Big Spring, and a sister, Debra Welch Riddle of San Antonio. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the Salvation Army, 811 W. 5th St., Big Spring, TX 79720 or Wounded Warriors Project at www.support.woundedwarriorproject.org.Arrangements under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory. Online condolences can be made at www.npwelch.com,
