Bobby Joe Welch

Bobby Joe Welch passed away on March 29, 2022 at the age of 86 years in Hurst, Texas.

Graveside services with full Military Honors will be held 10:00AM Friday, April 8, 2022 at Parkhill Cemetery, 4161 Macon Rd, Columbus, GA 31907 with Rev. Vern Jordin officiating. The family will receive friends from 6:00 – 8:00 PM Thursday, April 7, 2022 at McMullen Funeral Home and Crematory, 3874 Gentian Blvd. Columbus, Georgia 31907.

Bobby was born May 2, 1935 in Columbus, GA to the late Grady and Eunice Welch. As a young boy, he had dreams of becoming a pilot someday and would spend hours watching the airplanes at Columbus Airport. Bobby worked at the Bibb Mill in Columbus while going to night school to finish his high school education. Bobby joined the Air Force in 1955 and served three years. He then began selling insurance in the Panama City, Florida area. Bobby married Mary “Libby” Cunningham in December, 1959 in Panama City. Bobby re-enlisted in the Air Force in 1962. He served in Vietnam as a loadmaster on the C-141, was part of the entourage of President Nixon’s trip to China in 1972 and the airlift evacuation of Vietnam. At the time of his retirement in 1978, Bobby was an instructor at the loadmaster training school at Altus Air Force Base in Altus, Oklahoma. Bobby had obtained his private pilot’s license and went on to earn his commercial, multi-engine and airline transport ratings. He was also a flight instructor in Altus, Oklahoma and Quanah, Texas. Next to aviation he also enjoyed hunting and fishing. Other than his parents he is preceded in death by his brother, Grady Lavon Welch.

Bobby is survived by two brothers, Ronald Welch of Eufaula, Alabama and Larry Welch of Enterprise, Alabama, one son, Stephan Welch and wife Angela of Ada, Oklahoma, one daughter, Beth Belcher of Azle, Texas, five grandsons, Navy Chief Petty Officer Nicholas Deweese of Moyock, North Carolina, Justin Crawford and wife Hope of Springtown, Texas, Adam Crawford of Lake Worth, Texas, Sean Welch and wife Terah of Stratford, Oklahoma, Matthew Welch of Ada, Oklahoma, nine greatgrandchildren, Amanda Keefer of Dallas, Texas, AJ Strom of Altus, Oklahoma, Zoey Crawford of Wichita Falls, Texas, Trinity and Felicity Deweese of Moyock, North Carolina, Jace and Zaide Welch of Ada, Oklahoma, Zane Herrod and London Welch of Stratford, Oklahoma and one great-greatgrandchild, Izik Corralejo of Dallas, Texas.