Don Owen Welch, 91, of Tempe, Arizona passed away on March 2nd. A devoted husband and supportive father, Don is survived by his wife Karen, their children, Audrey and Gregory, and nieces and cousins and brother-in-laws, and a loving miniature dachshund "Holly". He was preceded in death by parents Owen and Ailene, and younger sister, Glenna.

His parents, Carl "Owen" Welch and Ailene Grace (Fletcher) Welch raised Don on the family dairy farm in Chino Valley, Arizona. Owen and Ailene with their two children relocated to Tempe in 1948. Don had attended Prescott High School prior to graduating from Tempe High School, then served in the armed forces. After service, Don returned to the Phoenix area. He started working for Mountain Bell at their central office on East McDowell Road. He continued with Mountain Bell / US West / AT&T for the next three decades. He met the love of his life, Karen Tuomisto of Tempe, in 1964. He and Karen married the following spring; they had two children and raised them in Tempe. He and his wife lived together in Tempe until Don's passing.

He had a knack for speaking his mind and bringing to light things that challenged other's good senses. He knew the value of hard work and recruited his immediate family to join him with side-projects. After retirement, for several years, he continued with telephone installation and service for several small businesses in the Phoenix area. He and Karen spent countless summer weekends with their children, friends, and family in a Payson-area cabin. He had a passion for offroad-vehicle excursions and spent many times exploring Arizona's trail roads. During his final years, he maintained a sense of independence by shopping for groceries close to his home.

May his soul rest in eternal peace. He was interred by his immediate family. For information about his memorial, please contact the family.

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