Robert Vernon “Bobby” Welch, 71, of Tifton passed away Sunday, December 17, 2023, in Macon. His funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, December 20, 2023, in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals with the Rev. Joe Brookshire and the Rev. Joseph L. Crumley officiating. Bobby will be laid to rest at Union Grove Church of God Cemetery in Eldorado. The family will receive friends on Tuesday, December 19, 2023, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals.
Hunter Tyson, Kaleb Kennedy, Conner Tyson, Fisher Tyson, Steve Spradley and Kevin Welch will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Nathan Spradley, C.B. Mathis, Derrell Spikes, Bill Cowperthwaite, Jerry Johns, Chad Mathis and Chad Norman.
Born December 26, 1951, in Tift County, Bobby was the son of the late Robert Willie Welch and Laverne Norman Welch. Before retiring, he was employed with Miller Brewing Company in Albany as a palletizer. He loved his grandbabies and loved fishing and vacationing with them at the beach; he enjoyed riding his Harley Davidson motorcycle; and spending time with his Rottweiler, Roxie. He served in the United States Army for three years and he served in the Air National Guard for 17 years.
Bobby is survived by his wife of 53 years, Thelda Spradley Welch of Tifton; two daughters and sons-in-law, Tracey and Eddie Kennedy of Dublin and Stacey and Steve Tyson of Ocilla; one brother, Johnny Welch of Berrien County; five grandchildren, Kortney Kennedy, Kaleb Kennedy, Hunter Tyson, Conner Tyson and Fisher Tyson.
Flowers will be accepted or memorial gifts may be made to Wounded Warriors at www.support.woundedwarriorproject.org; or Saint Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital at www.stjude.org.