Obituary of William Henry Welch

William “Bill” Welch passed away peacefully at home on May 14^th.  He was 95; born in Syracuse on June 21, 1926.  Bill attended St. Anthony’s and Nottingham before enlisting in the U.S. Navy.  He proudly served on the Aircraft Carrier U.S.S. LAKE CHAMPLAIN during WWII.  After the war he Attended Lycoming College in Williamsport, PA, followed by New York Law School in N.Y.C. to earn his law degree.

He then returned to Syracuse where he went on to form the law firm of Welch, Welch & Carr with his friends, Charlie Welch and Buddy Carr.  He also served as legal advisor to the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Dept. during the 60’s and 70’s, which he truly loved. In the early 80’s he was appointed as a Worker’s Compensation Judge, serving Syracuse, Watertown and the North Country, and was fondly referred to as “The Judge.”  He later became a consultant to Stedman and Garger and then returned to Private Practice before retiring in his late 80’s.

In 1954 he married Ellen Sculley of Endicott, NY and resided in Syracuse, Westvale, Marcellus and Camillus.  Ellen was a social worker with Catholic Charities.  The had two children, Billy and Betsy. Bill loved his family, his country, law, dogs, boating, horses, golf and hunting with his friends in DeRuyter.

Bill is predeceased by his parents, Walter and Helen Hunt, brother, Tony, sister, Ann Taylor and his wife, Ellen.  He is survived by his longtime significant other, Judy Napoli, who cared for him tirelessly in the final stages of his life and enabled him to remain at home with her and his beloved dog, Demi.  He is also survived by his sister, Patty Burke, son, Billy (Samantha) of Owosso, M.I., daughter, Betsy (Mark) Elliott and granddaughters, Diana, Nicki, and Evelina.

Calling hours are Wednesday, May 18, 2022 from 4 to 7pm at the Edward J. Ryan and Son Funeral Home, 3180 Bellevue Ave. Syracuse, NY 13219.  Funeral will be at 10am, Thursday, May 19^th at St. Joseph’s Church, 5600 West Genesee St., Camillus, NY 13031.  Burial to follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery, East Genesee St. in DeWitt, NY.