Robert Albert Welty Sr

Nov. 25, 1918 – Jan. 7, 2004

Robert Albert Welty Sr., 85, of South Bend, Ind., passed away at 8:35 a.m.on Wednesday, Jan.7, in Hospice House, South Bend.

He was born on Nov.25, 1918, in South Bend, to Albert and Myrtle (Slocum) Welty, who preceded him in death. He was also preceded in death by two sisters, Hazel Overton and Geraldine Moffet; and by a brother, Harvey Welty.

On Jan.5, 1939, in Marion, Ind., he married Verna Mae Griffee, who survives him. Surviving him along with his wife Verna are daughters, Judith Ann Smith (Gene) of LaGrange, Ind., and Sallie Alene Whiteford (David) of Minneapolis, Minn.;  and a son, Robert Albert Jr. (Teresa) of Galien, Mich. Also surviving are his beloved grandchildren, Gary Whiteford, Jeffery Whiteford (Rebecca), Christi Whiteford Martinson (David), Lisa Smith Ross (Kim), Scott Smith (Raven), Joshua Welty (Heather) and Sean Welty (Stacy); and his great-grandchildren, Cassie and Cortney Ross, Victoria, Ashley and Mikayla Whiteford, Michael Martinson, Mason and Dylan Welty, and Caden and Christian Smith.

Robert was graduated from Central High School, South Bend, in 1938.In 1940 until 1951 Robert worked at Studebaker as a machinist. In 1955 he received his bachelor of arts degree from Bob Jones University in Greenville, S.C. In 1952 he was ordained to the work of the Gospel Ministry by Calvary Baptist Church of South Bend. He was pastor of Lakewood Heights Interdenominational Church, Atlanta, Ga., from 1955 to 1960, and of Hudson Lake Baptist Bible Church, Hudson Lake, Ind., from 1961 to 1964. During this time he also worked his trade at Weldun Tool and Die, Inc. In 1984 Robert retired from Indiana Vocational Technical College after teaching for 15 years.

On June 11, 1944, Robert became a child of God.He was a member at Community Baptist Church.Through the years he volunteered at various churches as a Sunday School teacher and preacher.Using his trade skills he volunteered at HCJB in Elkhart, Ind., to help build radio transmitters for the mission field.His hobbies included bowling, golfing and writing poetry. 

Source: Newspapers.com

03/17/2025 EJS