Donald Welsh

William Donald Welsh passed away peacefully in Kaysville, UT on Sunday, March 18, 2012, after a brief illness, just days short of his 88th birthday. Known by friends and family as Donald, he was born March 28, 1924 in Morgan, UT to Acy and Elizabeth Spendlove Welsh, the seventh of eight children. He was always proud to tell people he had been born in a log cabin.

Donald grew up loving to fish and travel. After attending Morgan High School, he worked for the railroad and then joined the army at age 21. Serving with the 163rd Combat Engineers, he landed on Omaha Beach in Normandy on D-Day, June 6, 1944. His service took him through France, Belgium, Germany and Austria. He served his country courageously and received four Bronze Star medals and one Silver Star. He was honorably discharged and returned home in February 1946. Upon coming home, Donald moved to Cheyenne, Wyoming, where he worked for the railroad and Coca Cola for many years.

Donald was a sweet man who adored the family he had. With no wife or children of his own, he loved to spend time with his siblings and their children and grandchildren. He always had a smile and, although no stranger to hardship or loneliness, he never complained about the hand he was dealt in life. The fact that he didn't have much in the way of worldly goods didn't seem to matter to him. His most prized possessions were the many photos of his extended family that adorned the door and walls of his small room at Apple Tree Assisted Living, the place he called home for the last several years.

Donald is survived by his brother, Gerald Welsh of Washington Terrace and his sister, Beth Terry of South Ogden. He was preceded in death by his brother Reed Welsh, sisters Josephine Archer, Ramona Whitten, Arzella Neville and Glenna Nicklaus, and his beloved little dog, Tippy.

Donald's family is grateful for the wonderful staff at Apple Tree Assisted Living in Kaysville for their loving care and the kind residents for the friendship that he enjoyed so much.

Graveside services will be held on Friday, March 23, 2012 at 1:00 p.m. at South Morgan Cemetery. Viewing from 12:00 - 12:45 p.m. at Walker Mortuary, 45 W 200 N, Morgan, UT.

Interment will be at the South Morgan Cemetery.