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Floyd C. Welch

March 13, 1923 - November 10, 2009

It is with the greatest sadness that we must announce the passing of our father, our grandfather, our great-grandfather and husband, Floyd C. Welch. He passed on November 10, 2009 after battling a long and extensive list of cardiac ailments, throughout his lifetime, as he was born with a congenital heart defect. He had applied four times to join the Army, but was refused because of his heart defects. He was told not to waste his time taking up another students seat in college because he would not be alive one year later.

He was determined not to accept any negative advice. Against all odds, he opened up three successful businesses simultaneously by the age of twenty-one in Chillicothe, IL, where he was born. He and his wife, Evelyn, refused to accept his prognosis and they plunged forward with their dreams of building two homes within three years, the latter constructed of solid redwood. They lived there until he was told to move South to a warmer climate so his blood flow would be easier on his heart. One the way to Florida, he called his friend from Chillicothe, Dr. Hal Johnson, who told him about a new experimental heart surgery they were doing in Philadelphia. Dad immediately drove there and surgery was set up for the next day, with payment in advance because 99.5% of all patients died with this particular procedure. But he survived the odds after spending two years recuperating. He is the only person to have lived this long who had the open-heart experimental surgery in 1954, by the well-known pioneer heart surgeon, Dr. Baily.

Upon arriving to Fort Pierce, Dad (he) was not content to accept his “you need to take it easy” prognosis. He immediately bought land and began his construction company as a General Contractor. The first condo complex was built by Floyd in Fort Pierce as was the first section-eight housing development. He also successfully built Churches (was General Contractor for St. Marks Church), strip malls, commercial property, and was also a land developer and established several subdivisions and custom homes in the area.

He was very active in community events and his main purpose was to help everyone he could. He wanted to show them that anything was possible to achieve if you had the desire to do so, and to never let anything get in your way of achieving your dreams. Several people were helped over the years to either get into business or to stay in business by him. He wanted to see everyone be successful, no matter who they were. Always thinking of others before himself, he continued to look for various ways to help those less fortunate than himself.
Medical technology prolonged his life for an additional fifty-five years. It worked many miracles throughout his lifetime, of which he was always very grateful for. He considered it a privilege to be able to continue his life to every extent possible, and to have had only the best in medical care at Mayo Clinic and Lawnwood Medical Center. He is and always will be particularly grateful for the highest knowledgeable care he received from his local cardiologists, Dr. Shareef and Dr. Rashind. Without them, he would have lost fifteen years of his life. Their knowledge, dedication and expertise was invaluable to his survival, as they never gave up on continuing to care for his medical needs.

He was a retired Building Contractor and Land Developer and active in several community organizations. He was President of the Civitan Club, Vice President of the Mended Hearts Club, often visiting patients in the cardiac unit at Lawnwood. He was also a Director on the Board for the inlet House Condo Assoc., member of the Loyal Order of the Moose, Knights of Columbus, Sons of the American Legion, & the Board of Licensed Contractors. He was also involved in the Construction of the Island House Condos.

He led a very happy life after retiring at the age of 49, where he traveled for six months at a time on an annual basis throughout the United States with his beloved wife, Evelyn. They also traveled extensively throughout the European and Asian Countries and Middle Eastern Countries.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Edna, & Father, Guy Welch; brothers, Richard Johnson, Guy Welch and sister, Ruthy Johnson.

He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Evelyn; son, Charles C. Welch, and daughter, Carolyn Welch Cunno; grandson, Andy Dunno; granddaughters, Susan Welch Lowry and Andrea Dunno; great-grandson, Chase Lowry, and great-granddaughter, Riley Lowry.

He will be missed by everyone who knew him, as he was everyones friend, regardless of their background. He loved and respected everyone and enjoyed life in every way possible. He knew when to speak and when to listen.

Funeral Information

Visitation will be held at Yates Funeral Home, 1101 South US Hwy. #1, Fort Pierce, FL 34950, November 13, 2009 from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.

A Memorial Service & Celebration of Life will be held November 14, 2009 at St. Marks Church (19th & York Ct.- end of York Ct.) at 10:00 a.m. with reception immediately following in the St. Marks reception Hall.

Donations Information

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Mended Hearts, c/o Mary Ellen Pizzi, 5661 Hemingway Court, Fort Pierce, FL 34982.

Directions

Visitation:  Map to Fort Pierce Funeral Home

Service:  St Mark's Catholic Church

 Floyd C. Welch

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