James E. Welsh, Jr., 86, of Beverly Hills, FL, formerly of Holden, died Sunday, May 25, 2008 in Lecanto, Florida, after a brief illness.

  He leaves his wife of 28 years, Ruth M. (McLaughlin) Welsh; a son, Raymond M. Welsh and his wife Ellen of Pensacola, FL; a daughter, Jean A. Hebden of Turners Falls; a step-son, Robert F. Sanborn, Jr. and his wife Cathy of Holden; a step-daughter, Robin B. Sanborn of W. Glocester, RI; two brothers, William Welsh and his wife Katherine of Worcester and Robert Welsh and his wife Janet of Beverly Hills, FL; 19 grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren. A son, James "Jungle" E. Welsh IV died in 2007, a daughter, Mary Lou Gonyea died in 1998 and a grandson, Todd M. Welsh died in 1993. His step-mother, Hazel (Wood) Welsh, predeceased him. He was born in Holden, son of James E. and Sarah E. (Jones) Welsh, Sr., and lived in Holden until moving to Florida 20 years ago.

  Mr. Welsh was a U.S. Army Air Corps veteran of World War II serving in the European African Middle Eastern Theatre with the 379th Fighter Squadron, 362nd Fighter Group. He worked for Wyman Gordon Company in Worcester for 35 years, retiring as a welding foreman in 1985. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Dunnellon, FL.

  Relatives and friends are invited to attend calling hours from 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday, May 30th, in the Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main St., Holden. The funeral service for Mr. Welsh will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday in the funeral home followed by burial in Worcester County Memorial Park, Paxton. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Hospice of Citrus County Hospice House, 3350 W. Audubon Park Path, Lecanto, FL 34450.