Felice W. Welch

Felice W. Howard was born May 15, 1940 at Mercy Hospital in Detroit Michigan to the late Rufus Howard & Emma (Richburg) Howard.  Her mother Emma passed away in April of 1945 when Felice was just 4 years old. In 1947 her father Rufus Howard married Wilma Thomas and the Thomas / Howard family bond was formed. Many of Felice’s early years were with her cousins and family in Detroit Michigan Alex, Juanita & Elizabeth.

When Felice was in the 6th grade her mom and dad moved to Dayton Ohio. Felice didn’t want to leave her cousins in Detroit so they let her stay in Detroit for a few months with the Richburgs (Aunt Bea’s house). Halfway through the school year in 1952 her parents returned to Detroit and moved Felice to Dayton with them.

Felice attended Edison Elementary school where she met her lifelong friend the late Celestine  Keel and they became sisters. Felice attended Roosevelt High School where she met the love of her life William Welch. William graduated from Roosevelt in 1957 and was immediately shipped off to the United States Air Force. Felice graduated a year later from Roosevelt in 1958 and moved to New York City to work living with her aunt and uncle Alexander & Susan Thomas.

In 1959 Felice returned to Dayton Ohio and after attending Nursing school she started working at Grandview Hospital where she met another long time friend the late Darlene Thompson. In 1961 William returned to Dayton after spending 4 years in the Air Force and William & Felice were married October 9, 1961. From that union they had one son Derick who was born in April 1962.  In 1965 Felice left Grandview Hospital and spent the next 10 years at Dayton State Hospital which later became Dayton Mental Health Center until she returned to Grandview in 1975. During this time at Grandview Felice began picking up some additional hours in the nursing pool arena. She would bounce around between long term care facilities and assisted living facilities on weekends or after her shifts at Grandview. Felice could never say no when the nursing pool would call, and she eventually left Grandview in order to fill many of the open slots needed in the nursing pool. After being assigned to various locations many of those facilities would repeatedly request Felice when calling the nursing pool. This led to her being employed by a few of those facilities working as a staff nurse for Still Water and the Marriott Assisted Living Network. It was during this time where Felice met Sandy Baker and they became great friends. You could often find Felice and Sandy having lunch at one of the surrounding eateries between Dayton and Springfield where Sandy lived.

Anyone who knew Felice understands that she was always a caregiver. The nursing profession was how she paid the bills but caregiving was truly her gift from god. Throughout the years everyone in the family would always call Aunt Felice when they were sick. She would work a full day then head over to their house to check on them. As someone once said, a job really isn’t a job when you love what you do and she really loved caring for others. Felice, who was the youngest growing up, departed this life as the matriarch of the family.

Felice was baptized and accepted Christ early in life and attended the All-Nations Holiness Church of God which her father Bishop Rufus A. Howard was the pastor. Later in life Zion Global Ministries became her church home which is where her son and his family are members.  She was a faithful member and would regularly make the drive from Dayton to West Chester Ohio to attend service and as she would say listen to Pastor Piphus teach, preach, pray and sing. Felice loved fellowshipping with her Zion Family.

Felice is preceded in death by her husband William A. Welch, parents Rufus and Wilma Howard, Emma Richburg Howard, her brother Kermit Stallworth. Sister-in-laws Annette Stewart, and Anna Mitchell, brother-in-law McNeal Stewart and C.V. Mitchell Jr.

She leaves to cherish and celebrate her legacy her son, Derick (Tina) Welch; grandson, Brandon Welch;  daughter Pam (Peter) Simmons; granddaughter Erica Simmons, and grandson Evan Simmons. Nieces and nephews Travis Stewart, Teresa (Joe) Watkins, Sherry (Tony) Branch, Marvene (Hubert) Cook Katrina Taylor, C.V. III (Desiree) Mitchell, William (Stacy) Mitchell and a host of other relatives and friends.

Funeral service 12 pm Monday, December 16, 2024 at Phillips Temple Church, 3620 Shiloh Springs Rd, Trotwood, OH. Visitation 11 am- 12 pm at which time family will receive friends. Interment West Memory Gardens. Arrangements entrusted to House of Wheat Funeral Home.

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