November 30, 2023
November 30, 2023
Mom it has been 2 years since you left us I miss talking with you. I know we will see each other again. Love Chris
Dr. Mary L. (Navarro) Welch, 88, passed away on Tuesday, November 30, 2021 at Hospice of Dayton. Mary was born in San Antonio TX where she was orphaned at the age of four and raised by her extended family. In 1952 she married Herbert Navarro of Del Rio, TX, an officer in the US Air Force. Over the next 22 years, Mary raised her five children while living in multiple places in the US and in Spain.She also continued her education, a pursuit that was extremely important to her. She graduated from the University of Dayton and began teaching English at Sinclair Community College.
Mary served as a faculty member at Sinclair Community College from 1976 to 1999. She was also the faculty advisor for Phi Theta Kappa, the National Honors Fraternity for 21 years. Under her guidance the Sinclair Chapter won over twenty national awards. She was Phi Theta Kappa Coordinator for the State of Ohio from 1985-1995; and Founder/Director of the Sinclair Honors Program from 1986-1999. Mary also developed and served on the Board of Sinclair’s Leadership Development from 1992 until her retirement. In 1998, Sinclair Phi Theta Kappa members and alumni honored her by establishing an endowed scholarship in her name.
In 1983, Mary received her doctorate from Carnegie Mellon University. In 2001, Sinclair Community College awarded her the title of Professor Emeritus. Mary was also active in the community and the state. She served as a docent for the Dayton Art Institute and was appointed to serve on the Governor’s Commission for Spanish Speaking Affairs under Governor George Voinovich.
Following the death of her first husband in 1992, Mary married Jack Welch in 2001.They shared a great love of travel and spent fourteen years traveling to all the corners of the world, including all seven continents. After Jack’s death, Mary returned to her love of literature, writing and presenting papers with the Woman’s Literary Club of Dayton.
Mary was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Herbert, her sister Dorothy Jauregui of San Antonio, her son Richard Navarro of New Orleans, LA, and her husband Jack. She is survived by her son Mark Navarro and wife Susan of Boerne, TX; son Herbert Navarro and wife Shirley of Flagstaff, AZ; son Chris Navarro and wife Lynne of Casper, WY; daughter-in-law Carey Navarro of New Orleans, LA; and daughter Eve Navarro and wife Kim Dyke of Dayton. Her love lives on in her numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Mary will be interred alongside her husband Jack at David Cemetery in Kettering in a private service. A celebration of her life will be held at a later date. If desired, memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Dayton.
Mary served as a faculty member at Sinclair Community College from 1976 to 1999. She was also the faculty advisor for Phi Theta Kappa, the National Honors Fraternity for 21 years. Under her guidance the Sinclair Chapter won over twenty national awards. She was Phi Theta Kappa Coordinator for the State of Ohio from 1985-1995; and Founder/Director of the Sinclair Honors Program from 1986-1999. Mary also developed and served on the Board of Sinclair’s Leadership Development from 1992 until her retirement. In 1998, Sinclair Phi Theta Kappa members and alumni honored her by establishing an endowed scholarship in her name.
In 1983, Mary received her doctorate from Carnegie Mellon University. In 2001, Sinclair Community College awarded her the title of Professor Emeritus. Mary was also active in the community and the state. She served as a docent for the Dayton Art Institute and was appointed to serve on the Governor’s Commission for Spanish Speaking Affairs under Governor George Voinovich.
Following the death of her first husband in 1992, Mary married Jack Welch in 2001.They shared a great love of travel and spent fourteen years traveling to all the corners of the world, including all seven continents. After Jack’s death, Mary returned to her love of literature, writing and presenting papers with the Woman’s Literary Club of Dayton.
Mary was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Herbert, her sister Dorothy Jauregui of San Antonio, her son Richard Navarro of New Orleans, LA, and her husband Jack. She is survived by her son Mark Navarro and wife Susan of Boerne, TX; son Herbert Navarro and wife Shirley of Flagstaff, AZ; son Chris Navarro and wife Lynne of Casper, WY; daughter-in-law Carey Navarro of New Orleans, LA; and daughter Eve Navarro and wife Kim Dyke of Dayton. Her love lives on in her numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Mary will be interred alongside her husband Jack at David Cemetery in Kettering in a private service. A celebration of her life will be held at a later date. If desired, memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Dayton.
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December 4, 2021
December 4, 2021
My beautiful amazing mother, Mary Louise Navarro Welch left this world Nov 30, 2021. My mom was something special she was tough, beautiful determined and brilliant. She was born Nov. 12, 1933, in San Antonio, Texas. Life dealt her a tough hand early she was orphaned at age 5, along with her sister Dorothy 7 when their mother died. She married young, and at 16 had my brother Rick, then Mark, Herbert and at 22 she had me. I was told she cried when they told her it was another boy. Her fourth in a row. She finally got that elusive girl my sister Eve four years later. My mother was the backbone of our family many times when my father who was a professional soldier a veteran of WWII, Korea and Vietnam was gone six months or more on deployments, and it was up to her to keep everything together. She basically raised us alone. The thing I most admire about my mom is her dedication to bettering herself. While rearing five children, she began taking college classes part time and completed her bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in English literature. She went on to become a college Professor of English Literature emeritus and Director of Honors at Sinclair College in Dayton, Ohio where she taught until she was 68. She loved teaching and ruled the roost in the English department at Sinclair.
Growing up in a military family you are always moved to new bases every 2- 3 years my mom would start a new household and then find a new place to keep taking college classes. I was still in Highschool when she got her bachelor’s degree. I was 16 when we were stationed in Madrid Spain, I started rodeo in the military rodeo circuit. She wasn’t crazy about me riding bulls and my little sister barrel racing but she became the treasure of the rodeo club.
My mom loved opera and to travel. On her summers off she was a volunteer teaching abroad and I remember the time my mom in her sixties was teaching in Rome and robbed of everything and had a tough time getting home. I would sure like to run into that SOB sometime. My mom she just kept traveling and visited every continent, the last was Antarctica and the Galapagos Islands she made it there in her seventies.
When I look back over my mom’s life and I see the difficult road she had to travel and how hard she worked to get her education while raising 5 kids. My mom was a force something special I got my spirit toughness and determination from her. She is the reason I am the man I am today. I love you and I am so proud that you were my mom.
Growing up in a military family you are always moved to new bases every 2- 3 years my mom would start a new household and then find a new place to keep taking college classes. I was still in Highschool when she got her bachelor’s degree. I was 16 when we were stationed in Madrid Spain, I started rodeo in the military rodeo circuit. She wasn’t crazy about me riding bulls and my little sister barrel racing but she became the treasure of the rodeo club.
My mom loved opera and to travel. On her summers off she was a volunteer teaching abroad and I remember the time my mom in her sixties was teaching in Rome and robbed of everything and had a tough time getting home. I would sure like to run into that SOB sometime. My mom she just kept traveling and visited every continent, the last was Antarctica and the Galapagos Islands she made it there in her seventies.
When I look back over my mom’s life and I see the difficult road she had to travel and how hard she worked to get her education while raising 5 kids. My mom was a force something special I got my spirit toughness and determination from her. She is the reason I am the man I am today. I love you and I am so proud that you were my mom.
December 3, 2021
December 3, 2021
I have so enjoyed talking with Mary these last few years at Woman’s Literary Club. She has been a lovely addition to our programs, and I have appreciated her find mind and interesting conversation. I feel priviledged to have known her, if only for a few years.
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Recent Tributes
November 30, 2023
November 30, 2023
Mom it has been 2 years since you left us I miss talking with you. I know we will see each other again. Love Chris
December 4, 2021
December 4, 2021
My beautiful amazing mother, Mary Louise Navarro Welch left this world Nov 30, 2021. My mom was something special she was tough, beautiful determined and brilliant. She was born Nov. 12, 1933, in San Antonio, Texas. Life dealt her a tough hand early she was orphaned at age 5, along with her sister Dorothy 7 when their mother died. She married young, and at 16 had my brother Rick, then Mark, Herbert and at 22 she had me. I was told she cried when they told her it was another boy. Her fourth in a row. She finally got that elusive girl my sister Eve four years later. My mother was the backbone of our family many times when my father who was a professional soldier a veteran of WWII, Korea and Vietnam was gone six months or more on deployments, and it was up to her to keep everything together. She basically raised us alone. The thing I most admire about my mom is her dedication to bettering herself. While rearing five children, she began taking college classes part time and completed her bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in English literature. She went on to become a college Professor of English Literature emeritus and Director of Honors at Sinclair College in Dayton, Ohio where she taught until she was 68. She loved teaching and ruled the roost in the English department at Sinclair.
Growing up in a military family you are always moved to new bases every 2- 3 years my mom would start a new household and then find a new place to keep taking college classes. I was still in Highschool when she got her bachelor’s degree. I was 16 when we were stationed in Madrid Spain, I started rodeo in the military rodeo circuit. She wasn’t crazy about me riding bulls and my little sister barrel racing but she became the treasure of the rodeo club.
My mom loved opera and to travel. On her summers off she was a volunteer teaching abroad and I remember the time my mom in her sixties was teaching in Rome and robbed of everything and had a tough time getting home. I would sure like to run into that SOB sometime. My mom she just kept traveling and visited every continent, the last was Antarctica and the Galapagos Islands she made it there in her seventies.
When I look back over my mom’s life and I see the difficult road she had to travel and how hard she worked to get her education while raising 5 kids. My mom was a force something special I got my spirit toughness and determination from her. She is the reason I am the man I am today. I love you and I am so proud that you were my mom.
Growing up in a military family you are always moved to new bases every 2- 3 years my mom would start a new household and then find a new place to keep taking college classes. I was still in Highschool when she got her bachelor’s degree. I was 16 when we were stationed in Madrid Spain, I started rodeo in the military rodeo circuit. She wasn’t crazy about me riding bulls and my little sister barrel racing but she became the treasure of the rodeo club.
My mom loved opera and to travel. On her summers off she was a volunteer teaching abroad and I remember the time my mom in her sixties was teaching in Rome and robbed of everything and had a tough time getting home. I would sure like to run into that SOB sometime. My mom she just kept traveling and visited every continent, the last was Antarctica and the Galapagos Islands she made it there in her seventies.
When I look back over my mom’s life and I see the difficult road she had to travel and how hard she worked to get her education while raising 5 kids. My mom was a force something special I got my spirit toughness and determination from her. She is the reason I am the man I am today. I love you and I am so proud that you were my mom.
December 3, 2021
December 3, 2021
I have so enjoyed talking with Mary these last few years at Woman’s Literary Club. She has been a lovely addition to our programs, and I have appreciated her find mind and interesting conversation. I feel priviledged to have known her, if only for a few years.
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Mom at 22, 33, and at 82
