A memorial service for Walter Joseph Welch, 83, of Wichita Falls, Texas, formerly of Chickasha, will be held at 11:00 a.m. on December 11, 2025, at the Ferguson Funeral Home Chapel with Brother Kim Hayes officiating.

Walter Joseph Welch, known as WJ or Dub, was born December 11, 1941 in Chickasha, Oklahoma to Gervaise Bruce Welch and Ethel Elnora (White) Welch. He passed from this life on Friday, December 5, 2025 in Wichita Falls, Texas.

Walt was raised in Chickasha where he attended West Grade School and Chickasha Jr & Sr High School. He served in the United States Navy from 1961 to 1965 and earned a Vietnam Service ribbon. In 1964, he was blessed with the birth of his daughter Sabra and in 1970, he was again blessed with the birth of his daughter Barbara.

In 1975, he joined the Chickasha Fire Department where he served as a Firefighter and EMT. He married Patty Webb of Chickasha in 1980. In addition to working as a firefighter, he worked as an auto body mechanic with his final job at R&M Body Shop. Walt was a member of BPOE #2025. In his free time, Walt enjoyed camping throughout the United States as he and Patty moved to several states during her career in the USAF. He also enjoyed car racing, when he was younger. Upon Patty's retirement, they settled in Wichita Falls, Texas.

He was preceded in death by both parents, sisters Charlotte Hinson and Jane Swalley, brothers Gene Welch and Richard Welch, sister-in-law June Welch and niece Sharon “Sherrie” Messer.

Loved ones left to cherish his memory are his wife, Patty Welch of the home; daughters Sabra Bishop and husband Vincent of Oklahoma City and Barbara Welch and wife Jean of Chickasha; brother-in-law Harvey Joe Swalley of Tulsa; sister-in-law Nancy Welch of Beavercreek, Ohio; nephew Robin Hinson and wife Angela of Garland, Texas; nieces Debra Keener and husband Joe of Morgantown, West Virginia and Dedra Welch and wife Jennifer of Boerne, Texas; and grandson Raylonjay Welch and wife Kasandra of Hampton, Virginia; and other extended family and friends.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Oklahoma State Firefighters Museum and Memorial, 2716 NE 50th St., Oklahoma City, OK 73111 or go to www.osfa.info

Walt’s memorial service will be recorded and uploaded to our website in the days following the service, please check back at a later time to watch it here Ferguson Funeral Home | Chickasha, OK.

The cremation arrangements, service, and interment of cremains at Ft. Sill National Cemetery are under the direction of Ferguson Funeral Home.