Robert E. Welsh

Robert E. Welsh, 83,a resident of Bettendorf, Iowa died on Monday, April 16, 2007 at Genesis Medical Center, East Campus in Davenport, Iowa.
His funeral service will be held at 11:30 A.M. Friday, April 20, 2007 at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Bettendorf. Burial will be in the Rock Island National Cemetery where military honors will be conducted by the U.S. Marine Corps Honor Guard. Visitation will be from 4:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. Thursday at McGinnis-Chambers Funeral Home, Bettendorf. Memorials may be made to the Dr. Motto Kidney Dialysis Foundation.
He was born April 13, 1924 in Fairfield, Iowa, the son of Howard & Almeda (Munson) Welsh. On December 15, 1945, he was united in marriage to Julia O’Neill in Monmouth, Illinois. They enjoyed 54 years of marriage and Julia preceded him death on February 10, 2000.
Bob enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on August 26, 1942. He participated in naval operations against enemy forces aboard the USS Maryland Battleship from December 22, 1943 to September 30, 1945. He was honorably discharged as a corporal on October 15, 1945.
Bob graduated from Parsons College in Fairfield, Iowa with a Bacherlor’s degree. He was an outstanding athlete in football & basketball during his high school & college years.
He was employed by Mansfield Tire & Rubber Company of Mansfield, Ohio and also worked for the Union Fork & Hoe Company in Columbus, Ohio where he worked as a District Sales Manager for the Midwest territory.
Bob was a loving husband, father & grandfather who treasured his entire family. He was an avid sports fan, loved the Iowa Hawkeyes, Bettendorf High school sports and any sport that could be watched on TV. He always remembered every stat of most of the players in professional and college sports.
When it came to driving directions, Bob had the uncanny ability to accurately give directions for anyone traveling virtually anywhere. In his many travels, he made many friends and all have known him as SOB. (“Sweet Ole Bob”)
His memberships included Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2271 of Fairfield, the American Legion and the Elks Lodge.
Those left to honor his memory include his sons, Michael (Fran) Welsh of Rockford, Illinois, Dan Welsh of LeClaire, Iowa and Tim (Bettie) Welsh of New Caney, Texas; his daughters, Ellen Welsh of Bettendorf, Loretta (Larry) Thompson of Bettendorf, Julianne (Bill) Kout of Lawler, Iowa and Joanne (Jim) Grove of Findlay, Ohio; thirteen grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and his sister, Nita Snook of Laguna Niguel, California.
In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by his parents; and by his sister, Vivian McMican.

SEMPER FI