David P.F. Welch, Class of 2003
David P.F. Welch departed these environs on September 10, 2024, in search of peace and the perfect recipe for barbecued ribs. Born on June 2, 1980, in Medina, Ohio, Dave graduated from Medina High School where he played trombone in the marching band and the jazz band. He took his trombone to Muskingum University where he earned a partial music scholarship and contributed his talents to a variety of ensembles. He also met his future wife on the very first day of band camp. Bachelor's degree in hand, Dave went into sales. It was noted by some that Dave could sell ice in Antarctica, so it was no surprise he was a consummate salesperson, first at Gale's Garden Center where he wrote exceedingly funny descriptions on the signs for the trees and shrubs, then at Ganley Honda where he spent 17 years handing keys to happy car buyers. Given his sales skills and friendly personality, he eventually rose to a managerial position. He returned to the workforce after his first heart surgery, and was thrilled to be a used car buyer for Spitzer Chevrolet. He particularly loved buying exotic used cars without opening his own wallet. Always a kid at heart, Dave acquired a considerable number of LEGO models which he enjoyed building with his kids. His other talents, of which there were many, included his skills in the kitchen and at the grill where he frequently devised his own recipes, and entertained his family with his sharp wit and cleverness. His joking was never mean-spirited and a conversation with him could go in many at once, most of them interjected with humor and word play. Much, much too soon, Dave leaves behind his wife, Amy; his daughter, Molly; his son, Jack; his parents, Sid Welch (Peggy Koontz) and Janet Griffing-LaBonne (Steve LaBonne); and his brother, James, and sister-in-law, Debbie, and their children Emmalyn and Audrey. Dave is also survived by a bevy of sisters, brothers, and nephews by marriage, uncles, aunts, and cousins.