Ralph " David" Welch

On August 14, 2026, at the age of 88, Ralph David Welch passed away peacefully after a long battle with Parkinsons/Dementia. You suffered so much, you fought a good fight, our hearts broke as you slipped away from us day by day. We rejoice now knowing that you are at peace and alive and well in Heaven. We will always miss you, remember you, and love you. David was born on October 24,1937, in St. Louis, Missouri, to Ralph and Georgia Welch.

When David was 6 years old, his family moved to Pomona, California. They traveled to California during WWII on a Troop Train that was headed west. His greatest memory of that trip was of all of the soldiers they were surrounded by on the train. They lived in Pomona until he was in the seventh grade. David and his friends built scooters out of orange crates, boards, and old shoe skates. They rode those scooters all over Pomona doing what he called “some fun and crazy things.”

He went to live with his aunt and uncle on a farm in Glendale, Arizona when he was in seventh grade. He had fond memories of living with them and worked hard before and after school on the farm. He learned to drive all of the farm equipment, trapped gophers in the ditches for 1O cents each and helped his uncle collect honey from the beehives. He would plow, disc the fields and plant them.

David enlisted in the Army three days after he turned 17 years old. His cousin, Buddy, had recently come home from serving in the Army Airborne, and after hearing all of his stories about the Army he decided that's what he wanted to do. After boot camp he was stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where he was assigned to the 77th Special Forces Group Airborne and became a Paratrooper. He later joined the 82nd Airborne. He was very proud of his service in the Army and carried that pride and patriotism throughout his life.

It wasn't long after returning home that he attended a church service, sitting in the row in front of him he saw a beautiful girl wearing a pill box hat, her name was Ruth. They fell deeply in love and were married the following year.

David went to work for Ruth's dad after they were married as a residential house painter. He worked as a painter until he retired. He was also a fireman, realtor and florist.

They began their life together in Phoenix, Arizona, had three daughters, moved to Prescott, Arizona, where they made their home, until moving to Yakima in 1968. While living in Prescott they joined a square-dancing group, spent many weekends dancing, and continued square dancing until 2019.

After moving to Yakima, they adopted their son, Richard, when he was five years old. They started a 4-H club in West Valley, which became the largest 4-H club in the Yakima valley in the 1970's. David especially had fun leading the Clown group. He taught himself and anyone who wanted to learn to juggle and ride a unicycle. In the last few years of his life, he used to say that he wished we could have a 4-H Club reunion with all of the kids who had always held a special place in his heart.

He coached and sponsored a girls softball team for many years. He belonged to the J. C.s and WV Kiwanis Clubs. Dressing up as Santa every year for the JC's was something he always looked forward to, then knocking on the door at home as Santa to surprise his own children.

David and Ruth had dreamt of building a log home in the mountains but instead decided to buy property in Yakima and began building their dream home. Building the log home was an accomplishment that he was very proud of, as well as having built this with the help of his family. So many great memories were made there.

After retirement, David and Ruth pulled travel trailers, fifth wheels, and boats across the U.S. and Canada. They would be on the road for three to four weeks and home for one week. They did this for one year. It was a great way for them to travel and see all the states. They also spent many summers volunteering at Camp Prime Time located at Clear Lake. A moment that was memorable for David was when he let a boy who was blind fulfill his dream of driving a boat. Not sure who was happier at that moment, David or the young boy. Later in life at a funeral that they were both attending the same boy who was now a young man, heard David's voice, recognized his voice and went over to talk to him about that day and how much it meant to him to get to drive the boat. He thanked him for his compassion and kindness.

David spent years researching his family history. He gifted us with a huge binder of all of his genealogy as well as his own story of his life, such an invaluable gift that he gave us.

In his words at the end of his story, he wrote "It has been a great life, I LOVE ALL OF YOU."

David is survived by his loving wife, Ruth, his daughters, Sandy (Raoul), Machelle (Steve), Sonya (Stan), his grandchildren, Tiara (Steve), Mariko (Casey), Jessica (Scott), David (Gi), Noah and ten great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents, Ralph Welch, Georgia Welch, brothers, Bob Welch, Jim Welch, sisters, Jean Walla, Norma Carol Redding, son, Richard Welch, and great-grandson, Bodie Gagnon.

Our deepest thanks to MultiCare Hospice, Laura and Soco who walked us through the hardest journey, we will always be so thankful for you. Our deepest thanks to the staff at Englewood Health & Rehab, who took care of David, showed him kindness, love, and respect, and who cared for our family, it meant so much to us.

A Celebration of Life Open House will be held on Sunday, September 27, 2026, at The Terraces at Summitview, Columbia Building Dining Room (2221 N. 40th Ave., Yakima, WA). Light refreshments will be served.

Brookside Funeral Home is caring for the family. Memories and condolences may be shared at www.brooksidefuneral.com.