On Sunday Art & Jodie Welch celebrated their 50 anniversary with friends and fellow parishioners at the Beaumont Presbyterian Church.

The former Banning mayor and field representative for Assemblyman Paul Cook and his wife, a steadfast volunteer, were a featured part of the fellowship segment of the church services.

Fifty years ago, their nuptials were performed at the Webster Presbyterian Church in Webster Groves, Missouri, a suburb of St. Louis.  Art Welch is a native of Cape Girardeau, Missouri, where his father sold Buicks to Rush Limbaugh's dad.

During the fellowship, guests were treated to a special cake. Debbie Thurman, a talented baker, had been given a picture of the Welch's original wedding cake and replicated it for the event.  Art Welch joked that the cake tasted just as good as it did 50 years ago.

Art and Jodie met in college (she was a year ahead of him) and dated throughout their educational career.  When things were getting serious, Art gave Jodie his high school class ring. Then they were "pinned" (a bygone habit of giving or exchanging fraternity or sorority pins to show their allegiance to each other).  After Art graduated from college, they married on December 26, 1960.

As Jodie helped friends and family dig into the delicious cake, she commented, "It went so fast! I'm looking forward to the next 50!"

Up the Corporate Ladder

Art worked for Merck, a large pharmaceutical company for 36 years until his retirement.  He is the first one to smile when he sees a colleague taking a prescription medication.

"You just keep taking those pills, " he jokes, "it just helps my retirement benefits!

Jodie earned a degree in sociology, worked on three Girl Scout Councils and became a volunteer for the organization.  As Art rose up the corporate ladder, they had three children—Beth, 47, Jim, 46, and Scott, 45— and lived in Missouri, Kentucky Illinois, Kansas, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania  and California.

"These kids are like a unit," Jodie said.

Art and Jodie moved to Sun Lakes in 1994, and Art officially retired in 1996.  However, "retired" certainly didn't mean "inactive." He served on the Sun Lakes Master Board;  the Banning City Council, serving a term as mayor, and later went to work for Assemblyman Paul Cook as senior field representative—a position he still holds.

Art was a founding member of the San Gorgonio Pass Rotary Club (where he served as president) and will be president of the Banning Chamber of Commerce in 2011.

Jodie has been an active volunteer in the Presbyterian Church of Beaumont and has served as a volunteer for Carol's Kitchen for over 10 years.

After church, the Welch clan, including children and grandchildren, took a three-day trip to Palm Springs.  Art and Jodie were excited about spending time with the whole family.

Art recognizes how fortunate he has been and said "It has been a super, outstanding ride of 50 years."

Sun Lakes Notes

Sun Lakers must put new blue stickers on all vehicles, including golf carts, before 1/1/11.

For those new to Sun Lakes, January 13, 2011 (9am-noon) is Activities Day.  This is where newbies can find out what the various clubs at Sun Lakes do.  They literally run the gamut from A-Y—not quite to "Z"—from Aerobics to Yiddish Culture Club. Clubs are a major part of life in Sun Lakes.  Activities Day is the opportunity to check them out and join on the spot.

One of the newer (three years in January) club is the Social Singles, an opportunity for seniors who have become single to share good times together; there are monthly meetings, dinners, lunches, theatre and travel.  A founding member and current board member is Barb Willens, who helps to coordinate activities for the club.  She can be reached at 769.0912 or email, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it (if you're living in Sun Lakes, the only reason you have to be alone is because you choose to).

Participation in these clubs is limited to residents of Sun Lakes Country Club.