Ronald Lewis Welch Sr.

On January 21, 2022, Ronald L Welch affectionately known as “Big Ron” departed this life. He was born on March 20, 1947 in Washington DC to the late Ozzie and Robert L Welch. Ron was a native Washingtonian. He grew up in Washington DC and completed his primary and secondary schooling within the District of Columbia. Upon his graduation from Archbishop Carroll High School, he enlisted in the United States Army where he served for three years. After his honorable discharge, he enrolled in UDC and where he studied Electromechanical Systems Engineering Technology. He was employed by the Department of the Navy and later the Naval Medical Center, in totaled he worked for thirty-nine years as an electrician until his retirement from the Federal government. He took pride in his profession and supported his fellow coworkers by becoming president of his local electricians union. Big Ron loved his jazz, and he and his wife loved old, old, old black and white movies. He was no stranger to talking to strangers, he could a drum a conversation with anyone. His favorite saying was to “make a long story short”; which may have been short by the clock in his head but for everyone else it meant - settle in this is going to be a while. He was an amateur chef and took pride in the dishes he put together; always looking for perfection in what he cooked even if it took all night. He was an entrepreneur and held several jobs thought-out his life time including as a security guard, taxi driver and co-owner of an office cleaning business. Preceding him in death, were his mother Ozzie Welch, his stepmother Lottie Welch, his father Robert L Welch, his brother Julius Dancy, his son Ronald Lewis Welch Jr and his granddaughter Gwendolyn Lipford. He leaves behind to cherish his memory his beloved wife of 54 years Christine Welch. Three children Terencia Lipford, Micheal Lipford (Karen), Ingrid Lipford; one sibling Robert Welch (Ginger); six grandchildren Ricardo Lipford, Raven Lipford, Kevin Lipford, Quinn Lipford, Juwon Welch, Joshua Welch, Asia Davis; eight great grandchildren Malia Lipford, Ricardo Lipford, Rico Lipford and Rianna Lipford, Isiah Brown, Brooklyn Welch, A’iternitiey Lipford, Decarius Davis; and an abundance of relatives and friends. Ronald’s funeral service will be held on Saturday, February 5, 2022. There will be a viewing from 11:00 AM-12:00 PM and the service will begin at 12:00 PM at Lee Funeral Home located at 6633 Old Alexandria Ferry Rd, Clinton MD. The interment is scheduled at Cheltenham Veterans Cemetery 11301 Crain Hwy, Cheltenham, MD 20623 at a later date. Due to the current Covid restrictions and protocols there will not be a repast following the service. We will gather in celebration of Ronald’s life at a later time. https://youtu.be/TwQ4qqMjCww To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Ronald Lewis Welch Sr. please visit our Sympathy Store.