Memorial Set For Welches

A joint memorial service for longtime former Indian Canyon golf pro Bill Welch and his wife, Elizabeth, will be Friday at 1 p.m. at St. John’s Cathedral, 12th and Grand.

The Welches, who had been married almost 60 years and had been living in Sumner, Wash., died a little less than a year apart. She died Oct. 31, 1998 and he on Sept. 28, 1999.

Welch, who was 85, served as pro at Indian Canyon for 18 years, starting in 1965, before stepping down in 1984 at the age of 70 after serving as host pro for that year’s U.S. Public Links tournament at the course.

That event held special memories for Welch. He won the 1941 Public Links at the Canyon.

He also was a pro in Lewiston and Pasco before arriving in Spokane.

The Welches are survived by a son, Pat Welch, and three daughters, Nina Welch, Ann Howard and Margie MacPhee.