Doris Jean Welkenbach

Doris Jean Welkenbach passed away peacefully at age 91 in her Orange Park, Florida, home on Friday, March 1, 2024, surrounded by family.

Born January 13, 1933 in Massillon, OH to George and Della Bean, from Comanche, TX and Westpoint, TN. She received Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Elementary and Physical Education from Eastern Michigan University. In 1962 she married Jack Welkenbach, US Navy SCPO (RET). After extensive European travels and four military stations, they settled down in Orange Park, Florida. Doris enjoyed tennis, swimming, volunteering, shopping, dining, and the University of Michigan Wolverines. After retiring from teaching 3rd grade at Orange Park Elementary School in 1993, Doris and Jack visited every US continental state capitol and continued traveling, visiting 6 of 7 the world continents and numerous countries. She was a very active elder in her Orange Park Presbyterian Church; she loved God, serving her church and dearly loved her church family.

Doris is preceded in death by her parents, sister Mildred Reed and nephew Ralph Murray of Las Vegas, NV, and beloved husband Jack. She is survived by her niece, Pamela Murray of Las Vegas, NV, daughters Susan (Hans-Georg) Lerdo, of Harsefeld, Germany (DE), Laura Welkenbach and Terri Bentley, both of Orange Park (OP), Florida. Also survived by her grandchildren John W. Merritt III of Johnson City, TN, Evelyn Fox of OP, Sebastian (Kerstin) Lerdo of Cuxhaven, DE, Maximilian Lerdo of Hamburg, DE, Benjamin Welkenbach of OP, Aaron Bentley of Rochester, MN, Madeleine Lerdo of Hamburg, DE, and three great-grandchildren, Theodor Jack and Johann Henry Lerdo of Cuxhaven, DE. Dorothy Rae W. Merritt of Johnson City TN.

There will be a memorial service at the Orange Park Presbyterian Church on March 23,2024 at 11:30am. She will be interred at the Jacksonville National Cemetery October 9,2024 at 2:30 pm.