Doctor Walter Welch - We're going to miss you

When I originally posted this, I didn't have the clarity to add a few things. I just wanted to advise everyone, as per Ann's wishes.

It's about 24 hours since I found out, and I wanted to add a couple of things.

Doc had always been real kind and patient with me, and it seems that Imade him laugh a time or two. He once asked me if I would like a cape to go along with my Vampiric name, and of course I said "YEAH!".
He then advised me that he had requested that his daughter, Ann/Dark Mistress make me a cape. Apparently the request went something like this:
Doc: Ann, would you please make a cape fopr a vampire gerbil?
Ann: Okay.
Click to expand...

The only thing is that Ann sized the cape up for a REAL gerbil, rather than me. It cracked both of us up, and I still have it hanging in my "office", proudly displayed.

Click Here to see how it's hanging.

Click Here to see me proudly wearing it.

Then there was the time that I found out that my wife had diabetes. Doc basically ordered me to take his home phone # and to call him at ANY TIME if I needed any help.

He really was a great guy and I'll never forget him... or the photos of his cats!
DG
 
Dave, I too have now had the better part of a day to contemplate things. So I went back to my post and added an addendum with Walt's words that better provide insight to that part of his character that many here who weren't fortunate enough to know him other than through his online posts might not have perceived. You allude to it as well with his offer, no demand, that you were to feel free to contact him about your wife's illness.

I still feel an emptiness that is... well, hard. We here are part of a special community which is populated with some very special people of exceptional character. Walt was one of the best, plain and simple.

I hope his daughters are given copies of these posts. I think Walt's grandson might appreciate them some day as he will not have had an opportunity to get to know his grandfather.
 
While not especially close, I regarded him as a friend. It's never pleasant to see a friend go.

Requiescat in pace.

Robert.
 
Walt a good man, a life well lived and had friends from all parts of the world (Bladeforums). He will be sorely missed.

Deepest condolences to his family.
 
While not knowing Walt well I enjoyed many of his posts and LOL more than once reading them.My heart felt sympathy goes out to his family and friends.

Stan
 
Man, I'm gonna miss him!!!:( He was one of my first e-mail buddies back from the old Knifeforums. I'm really at a loss...
 
I saw this yesterday and it really floored me. I remember when Dr. Welch was one of the most active members on this forum. I always enjoyed reading his posts.

I got out my old Knifignugen T-Shirt that he had made up. I remember that he refused any payment for it and insisted we send the money to help cover the costs of the event instead. This was just the kind of guy he was.

So long Dr. Welch.

You will be remembered!
 
I've missed Walt's posts for a while now, and wondered where he went. I remember one particular instance when, after posting a lamentation of the inavailability of a particular custom maker's model, Walt emailed me out of the blue, saying that he would gladly allow me purchase of one of his own, still in the wrapper- one, I am sure, that was to be in his permanent collection.

A true gentleman, and a man of integrity- you had only to read his posts to know it.
 
Walt was one of the good guys, I'll miss his contributions to our lives.
 
I enjoyed his posts and how he shared his knife and medical knowledge (and those beautiful Gold Coin Sebenzas). He will be missed.

God Bless.

Dean
 
Oh my! This is a terrible surprise.
Another of the pillars of our community is gone.
I am just another of the many members who loved Walt Welch for all the reasons I've just read about in this thread and more. This forum is diminished by his loss, yet sustained by his memory. He's here. in the archives. He was involved in a lot of important discussions here. His posts always offered pure credibility, instant reason, and often some comic relief. I don't know if anything we do here is important unless it is to recognize a class act like Walt Welch. God bless Walt and all his family.










I'm sorry to add this wierd post script,
...but during the past year I've become a less frequent visitor and mostly a lurker at that. A few days ago, in the big town south of where I live (Columbus, OH), a fellow by the name of Walter Welch passed away under some unusual circumstances. Hearing of this and remembering our Walt Welch is what prompted me to get online this afternoon. I sort of missed the forums. I knew our Walt was not from Columbus. I wondered, in fact, if this case in Columbus had already been brought up here at BFC somewhere and whether OUR Walt had commented on it. I find it a strange bit of personal irony that one Walt Welch, whom I've never actually met, expires and this reminds me of yet another Walt Welch I've never actually met but "know" and respect in cyberspace and now I find that he too is gone. What a day.
 
What a sad day... :( Walt was a great guy and his wit and wisdom will be sorely missed. bald1's post summed up Walt's ways nicely.

A few years back I was deciding which blade steel to use for my very first custom knife - a Kit Carson Model 4. Walt saw a post of mine on the subject and began an e-mail dialogue with me. He sent along some info on the Crucible steels, and we discussed the various merits of each one. He finally decided that my first custom should be one to remember, so he volunteered to send Kit a billet of Talonite to use for my knife at NO CHARGE! Walt and I had goofed around a bit on the forums and in the chat room, but I never would have expected him to do anything like that. That's just the way he was. Needless to say, I've still got that knife, and will always remember Walt for that (expensive) bit of kindness he sent my way. God bless you, Walt.
 
I will miss Walt's insight, his knowledge, and his wit.

Rest in peace Walt.

You are greatly missed already.
 
Sad news :(.

When I saw a thread that Walt had started or was last poster I red it.

His passing away is great loss to us all.

Rest in peace Walt.
 
From one Welshman to another, I will miss you my friend.

Wherever you are Walt, I hope you are doing well.

Walt was a real nice guy, we often poked a little fun at each other but he had a heart of gold. I for one will really miss him. I hope to meet you one day Walt, not too soon, but one day I am sure we will meet. Us Welshmen stick together!

My very best wishes to the family at this sad time.
 
Walt Welch was a tremendous asset to this community and will be missed.
 
I too, among many, was a recipient of Doc Welch's kindness almost three years ago. He refused to accept payment for something he sent me and asked me to help others if I was ever in a position to do so. An extremely generous man who I wish I had gotten to meet in person.

My sincere condolences to his family. His wit and good heart will be missed.
 
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