Paul L. Welch

Paul Lambert Welch 74 of Niceville, FL went to be with his Lord and Savior on December 7th, 2022. He went peacefully in his home Wednesday morning after a hard-fought battle with Parkinson’s, he was surrounded by loved ones.

Paul was born in Baton Rouge, LA on May 16th, 1948. After graduating from Glen Oaks HS in 1966 he joined the Air Force, where he met the love of his life, Anna.

Paul retired from the Air Force after 26 years of service to our country—He was a true patriot. He had a love and passion for the outdoors and was fortunate enough to be stationed in places like North Dakota, Colorado, and Alaska where he could share that passion with his family by taking them on camping, skiing, fishing, shopping, and hunting trips. He loved taking his girls on trips out west and showing them all his favorite places from Custer’s Battlefield, to the Rodeo and Cowboy Hall of Fame and everything in between. Paul loved to talk about his rodeo days. He loved to entertain with his stories of riding bulls and broncs or any adventure or misadventure.

To know him was to love him. If you weren’t laughing with him, you were laughing at him and his tall tales.

He was such a big presence in the lives of people that had the pleasure of knowing him.

He loved his wife, his two girls, and grandchildren, as well as his nieces and nephews who meant the world to him. Paul was the true definition of a loving husband and father who was extremely proud of his family. There wasn’t a dance recital, cheer competition, beauty pageant, or sporting event you didn’t see him and Anna in the stands cheering them on. He lived for his girls and grandchildren always putting them before anything else, family was always first for Paul.

Paul loved to hunt and fish especially with his children, grandchildren, and friends. He also had a passion for golf, loved playing with his Courthouse Group and friends at the Panama Country Club in Lynn Haven, FL; and talking about it with his friends at Edwin Watts Golf Shop.

He is proceeded in death by his parents Emanuel B Welch and Willie Caraway, and his sisters Gay Nell Deale and Vera Dear.

He is survived by his wife Anna, his daughters Shannon Welch, Stephanie Lafitte (Joe), grandchildren Shelby Howell, Shane Howell, Logan Lafitte, Kenley Lafitte, Mother-in-law, Lillian Welch, Siblings Ben Welch (Anita), Jerry Welch, Sarah Hamm (Bo) and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

The funeral services will be Monday, December 12, 2022. Visitation from 9:00 to 10:00 AM and memorial service at 10:00 AM at Emerald Coast Funeral Home with Interment to follow at 3:00 PM at Greenwood Cemetery in Panama City, FL

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