William Welton

Hastings resident, William "Bill" Riley Welton, 75, passed away Sunday, September 28, 2014.

Memorial Services will be Thursday, October 2, 2014; 11:00 A.M. at First Presbyterian Church, Hastings with Rev. Dr. William G. Nottage-Tacey officiating. Private family burial will be in Parkview Cemetery, Hastings, Nebraska. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to William R. Welton Physics Scholarship at Hastings College or Harvard Rest Haven where Bill received excellent care. There will be no viewing, visitation will be Wednesday, October 1, 2014; 5:00 P.M. - 8:00 P.M. with family present at the funeral home.

Bill was born August 31, 1939 in Council Bluffs, Iowa to Claude & Pauline (Madgett) Welton, and was raised in Hastings by his maternal grandparents, William & Pauline Madgett. He attended Hastings Public Schools and graduated with honors in May 1957. Bill attended and graduated from Hastings College in 1962 with high distinction in mathematics and physics. Bill received his Masters of Science degree with a major in physics and minor in math from University of Nebraska Lincoln in 1965. He worked for General Electric in Utica, New York in the light military electronics division for two years. Bill did research and development of airborn low light level television systems employed in Vietnam that subsequently flew on the Gemini space craft. He was married to Sherryl Sweet of Curtis, Nebraska on September 6, 1965 in Lincoln, Nebraska. Bill returned to Nebraska to work in the family business in 1967. He spent more than 40 years owning and operating Welton Enterprises, was employed by Industrial Irrigation Services as an accountant and business manager from 1995 to 2000, and owned and operated Welton Woodworks from 2000 to 2006. He taught physics at Hastings College during a leave of absence for Dr. Throckmorton. Bill was active in civic and public affairs, serving from 1978 to 1980 on Hastings Board of Public Works, was very active in development and construction of the Whelan Energy Center, involved in the creation of the Nebraska Municipal Power Pool and served four terms as President of the Board of Directors. He served as Mayor of City of Hastings from 1980 to 1984, member of Museum Foundation Board of Trustees for about ten years serving as President for a time; during this time the Lied Imax Theatre was constructed. Bill was a member of First Presbyterian Church serving as President of the Board of Trustees and ushered for 13 years. He was a member of Hastings Lodge #50, Scottish Rite and Tehama Shrine bodies of Hastings and was a member of Lochland Country Club for many years. Bill enjoyed Lionel trains, reading, traveling, and square dancing.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents and grandparents.

SURVIVORS:
Wife:
Sherryl "Sherry" Welton - Hastings, NE
Children, Spouses & Family:
Todd & Shannon Welton - Hastings, NE
Matthew & Megan
Tricia Welton-Hinkle & Martin Hinkle - Hansen, NE
Adam Welton & Heather Francisco - Madison, WI
Amelia
Brother-in-law:
James Sweet - Hansen, NE