In Remembrance: Donald Roderick Welles Jr. ’59 Died on June 16 2014

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The Rev. Donald Roderick Welles Jr., age 79, was born peacefully into eternal life on June 16, 2014, at home, surrounded by family.  A native Delawarean, Rod attended Wilmington Friends School and graduated from the Hotchkiss School in Lakeville, Connecticut.  Rod received his BA from Yale University and his master of divinity from Episcopal Theological School in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Following seminary, Rod taught English and religion at St. Paul’s School in Concord, New Hampshire, after which he was head of the upper school of Portledge School in Locust Valley, New York.  He also served as head of Sewanee Academy in Sewanee, Tennessee, and head of the Arlington Schools in College Park, Georgia.  After returning to Wilmington, Rod worked first for Independent School Management and then for Friendship House, Inc.

Rod believed there were three essential relationships in life: one’s relationship to God, one’s relationship to other persons, and one’s relationship to God’s creation.  Expressing these relationships was the hallmark of his ministry as a priest, as an educator, as a racism awareness trainer, and as a minister to the homeless.

Rod is survived by his beloved wife of 40 years, Sue; his beloved children, Kirsten and Rod III; and grandchildren August, Cameron, and Wyndham. 

A memorial service is scheduled in Wilmington, Delaware, for Saturday June 28, 2014. 

In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to support jazz vespers at the Episcopal Church of Saints Andrew and Matthew in Wilmington, Delaware; or to Friendship House Inc., P.O. Box 1517, Wilmington, DE  19899; or to Camp Arrowhead, Episcopal Diocese of Delaware, 2020 Tatnall Street, Wilmington, DE  19802; or to Delaware Hospice at 16 Polly Drummond Center, 2nd Fl., Newark, DE  19711.

—Submitted on behalf of the family.