Dr. Roland Langston Welch's Obituary
Dr. Roland "Rip" Langston Welch passed away on December 2, 2007 at his home in Pearland, Texas, surrounded by his loving family. Born in Alexandria, Louisiana, on April 21,1924, he was the son of the late Thomas L. Welch, Sr. and Lucille V. Springfield. He graduated from Wiley College in Marshall, Texas in 1948 and received his medical degree from Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee in 1956. Dr. Welch practiced as a surgeon in Port Arthur, Texas, where he was on staff at Park Place General Hospital and St. Mary's Memorial Hospital. He also continued his father's legacy by serving as the Medical Director of the Welch Clinic for several years. He completed his Psychiatric Residency in June 1970 at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, and over the next few decades served as staff psychiatrist at the Veteran's Administration Hospital in Houston; 117th Combat Support Hospital with the Texas Army National Guard; The Rio Grande State Center in Harlingen, Texas where he soon became the Clinical Director. Later, Dr. Welch was a staff physician at Ben Taub General Hospital and Riverside General Hospital in Houston. He also taught psychiatry at both Baylor College of Medicine and the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio. A member of the United States Navy Seabees from 1942 to1946, Dr. Welch also served as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Texas Army National Guard from 1980 to 1986. He received a promotion to the rank of Colonel in 1987. Dr. Welch belonged to the American Psychiatry Association, The Texas Medical Association, the Houston Medical Forum, the National Medical Association and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity. He also served on the Admissions Committee Board at Baylor College of Medicine. Dr. Welch was preceded in death by his brother, Thomas L. Welch, Jr. and his sister, Mrs. Clyde Peyton. He leaves to mourn his long-time companion, Linda Welch, and his loving children, Kathleen Wilcott (Robert) of Sherman, Texas; Jana Welch (Linda Villarosa) of Brooklyn, New York, Laura Welch-King (Roderick) of Port Arthur, Texas; and Joseph Anthony "Tony" Welch (Shannon) of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He is also survived by his grandchildren Arielle, Rip and Blaise Wilcott; Kali and Nicolas Villarosa; Lauren Welch, Camryn, Nicholas and Kobe King; Thomas Jeremiah "T.J." Welch; as well as nieces Debra Grehn and Toni Wells and a nephew Dale McCollum. The family would like to extend a special thank you to Jossie Stewart, Stephanie Smith and the staff at Interim Health Care, Girling Hospice and the Pearland Primary Care Physicians. We would also like to express our gratitude to Compassionate Care Hospice with a special thank you to Kim Castro for all of her loving care. There will be a private burial ceremony at the Veteran's Memorial Cemetery on April 21st, 2008. Please keep Roland Langston Welch in your prayers.
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