Welper, Otto Henry 1925-2010

WELPER, BEALL, BIALEK, MAGUIRE, HUMPHREY, RIZOS, NOYES, TINSLEY, DOUBLEDAY, MEDLING, GLADDEN, UHLAR

Posted By: Errin Wilker
Date: 12/14/2016 at 19:14:56

Otto H. Welper of Browning Rd, Norwichtown, Connecticut, died Wednesday, June 23, 2010, at his home.

Otto was born on November 3, 1925, in Waukon, Iowa, son of the late Otto Herman Welper and Dora M. (Beall) Welper.

Entering the Navy in January 1944, Chief Welper spent his entire military career in the submarine service, having served on the submarines ARGONAUT (SS 475), SENNET (SS 408), NAUTILUS (SSN 571), SKATE (SSN 578) and SCORPION (SSN 589). During World War II he earned the Submarine Combat Insignia while aboard the ARGONAUT participating in war patrols in the East China Sea and Yellow Sea areas. He was assigned to the SKATE during her two historic patrols beneath the polar ice cap. He was commended for his performance which contributed to the safe transits of the SKATE. In the course of his military career, he has been awarded the Navy Unit Commendation, Good conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Medal National Defense Service Medal and the Submarine Combat Insignia. Mr. Welper ended his military career with a tour of duty at the Groton-based Nuclear Propulsion Department instructing courses at Submarine School.

After his 21 years of service to the US Navy, Mr. Welper was employed for 23 years as a technical writer/editor at Electric Boat in Groton, retiring in 1987.

In addition to his fulfilling career, he was a member of the Viper Club and a Cessna flight pilot. He enjoyed spending free time flying his Fairchild plane.

Mr. Welper was a communicant of Sacred Heart Church in Taftville and a former communicant of the Shepard of the Sea Church in Groton.

Mr. Welper was a member of the U.S. SUBVETS, Groton Base.

Otto Welper was predeceased by Stephanie (Bialek) Welper, wife of 29 years; Alice (Maguire) Welper, wife of 11 years; daughter Mary Catherine Welper; step-son Gary Humphrey; 3 brothers and 2 sisters.

He is survived by one sister, Marlys Rizos of Dallas, Texas; a son, Otto John Welper of Houston Texas; a daughter, Frances A. Noyes of Norwichtown; and grandchildren, Amy Noyes of Palmyra, Maine, Erica (Noyes) Tinsley of Norwichtown, Jessica (Noyes) Doubleday of Montville and Jason Noyes of Norwichtown; as well as great-grandchildren, Jena, Krissy, Zackariah and Braedyn. In addition, he is survived by his step-children, Paul Humphrey of Westerly, Rhode Island; Patricia Medling of Preston; step-grandchildren, Matthew Humphrey of Norwich, Michelle Humphrey of Tampa, Florida, Benjamin Humphrey of Westerly, Rhode Island, Tamaryn Gladden of Flagstaff, Arizona, Matthew Medling of Griswold, Connecticut, and Mary Jo Uhlar of Chesapeake, Virginia; and 8 step-great-grandchildren.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a memorial Mass Tuesday, June 29, at 10 AM at Sacred Heart Church, Taftville. Entombment will follow in St. Mary Mausoleum, Norwich. There are no calling hours.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to Special Olympics, Connecticut.

Guillot Funeral Home, Taftville, is in charge of arrangements.

Source: Norwich Bulletin, Norwich, CT, 25 Jun. 2010.