James "Jim" E. Welch, 75 of Akron, passed away at his home on Thursday, February 18, 2021. He was born on December 2, 1945 in Clarksburg, WV to the late John and Mary Welch and was 1 of 18 children. He had been an Akron area resident most of his life and retired from Waste Management with over 30 years of service. He is survived by friends, Jim and Janet Mullinax; sister, Carol Owens and numerous other relatives. Funeral Services will be held THURSDAY, February 25, 2021, 12:00pm (NOON) at the Swigart-Easterling Funeral Home, 624 Cherry St. E. (Rt. 93) Canal Fulton. Burial at Manchester Cemetery. Visitation ONE HOUR PRIOR to service time at the funeral home.