Joe Welch, of Harwich, MA, passed away peacefully and surrounded by his family on May 23, 2017. He was born in Washington, D.C., on June 25, 1918, to Joseph Nye and Judith Lyndon Welch and lived most of his life on Plimpton Pond in Walpole before moving to the family's Harwich home in 1984. A distinguished USAAF pilot, Joe flew the "hump" supply route over the Himalayas during World War II. Upon returning to Walpole, he established himself as a noteworthy engineer and artist, and spent the most rewarding years of his career as engineer collaborating with Japanese sculptor Susumu Shingu. Joe also found a lot of challenge and fun in his decades-long relationship with Vermont's Stave Puzzles. Joe was married to Anne (née Lincoln) for 69 years until her death in November, 2016. He is survived by his brothers Lyndon Welch and Jacob Brown (wife Barbara), and his daughters Martha Cooper (husband Berny), Nancy Welch, Margaret Welch (husband Ron Rozsa), and Molly Brewer (husband Mark). Joe is also survived by his granddaughters Corey Beauharnois and Lindsey Djordjevich, by his grandson Andrew Brewer; by eight great-grandchildren, and a host of extended family and friends, and by his devoted caregivers. His step-siblings Chuck and Betsy predeceased him. The family suggests that donations in Joe's memory be made to the Woods Hole Oceanographic Society's SEA Training Semester Program or the Harwich (MA) Conservation Trust.