William Welch

“Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.” Matthew 7:12

William Reginald Welch, son of the late Josephine Johnson-Stokes and Robert Lee Welch, entered this life on August 30, 1963, and he accepted Christ and loved the Lord.

William was known as Reggie to most of his friends and acquaintances and as “Big Daddy” by his family and longstanding friends who were closest to him. When Reggie was at the tender age of 8, his mother (the first love of his life) made a difficult, life-changing decision for him: Reggie would be raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (instead of Chicago), by his maternal Uncle James Johnson and his wife Annie, along with their children. Reggie’s mother traveled to Milwaukee every holiday and summer and otherwise as much as possible to see her son. Under the tutelage of his Uncle James Johnson, Reggie developed a passion for carpentry and home remodeling. He often recalled that he was 8 years old when he first assisted his uncle with laying a ceramic floor. That memory never faded with time, Reggie said, because of the 27 stiches in his hands that followed his labor.

Reggie attended Milwaukee High School, where his education in construction continued, and graduated in 1982. After graduating high school, Reggie returned to Chicago, happy to be reunited with his Mother, and she with him. Reggie (“Big Daddy”) honed his carpentry and home-remodeling skills, including plumbing, in Chicago, where he worked for several construction companies. Importantly, one such company was owned by his cousin Lawrence “Porky” Johnson. It was through Porky’s training that Reggie became a “Jack of All Trades” and “Master of Many.” He was employed for 12 years at Princeton Park Apartments in Chicago, Illinois, where he eventually was promoted to Plumbing Supervisor, before retiring. Reggie even played Santa Claus to many of the children residing at Princeton Park Apartments. For health reasons, he retired early and relocated his family to Columbus, Ohio, where his two sisters resided.

In 1984, Reggie met the love of his life, Daria Jill Bowden, to whom he was married for almost 40 years. After many years of marriage, their prayers for a child were answered in 2004, when God blessed them with their only child, Isaac Julius Bowden Welch, whom they adored and loved absolutely. In marriage to Daria, Reggie took on a huge family of in‑laws, including her 10 siblings and their growing offspring. These so‑called “in‑laws” loved Big Daddy like he was blood and feel his loss profoundly.

On January 2, 2026, William Reginald “Big Daddy” Welch was having an amazing day! But God said, “It’s time.” Big Daddy was preceded in death by his mother, Josephine Johnson-Stokes; father, Robert Lee Welch; sisters Joni Welch and Rosylnn Welch; and brother, Roger Johnson. Resting from his labor, Big Daddy leaves to mourn him a devoted wife, Daria Jill Bowden Welch; son, Isaac Julius Bowden Welch; sisters Marcia Johnson, Ronda Petway (Larry), Marsha Taylor, Angela Jones, and Chiquita Perry Brooks; Uncle Thomas Johnson, Sr. (Stephanie); Aunt Ruth Mayfield; special Aunt Annie Johnson; Aunt Mary McGoffney; God brother William Q. Smith; a host of nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews, cousins, and God children; five sisters‑in‑law and five brothers‑in‑law; 72 nieces‑ and nephews-in-law; and a host of friends.