Robert Lewis Welch Jr.

Mr. Robert L. Welch, Jr., 80, of Springfield, MO, formerly of Pike County, MO, passed away on September 22, 2017 in Republic, MO. Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 A.M. Monday, September 25, 2017 at the Collier Funeral Home in Louisiana, MO. Marvin Scherff will be officiating. Burial will be at the Greenlawn Cemetery in Bowling Green, MO. Visitation will be held from 5:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. on Sunday, September 24th at the funeral home. He was born on September 24, 1936 in Pike County, MO to Robert L. Welch, Sr. and Nellie Anne Irene Adams Welch. He was married to Norma Wharton on June 19, 1960. They were divorced in February 1982 and she survives. He had been with his partner, Dorothy Woolley for 27 years when she passed away in November 2014. He is survived by one son, Robert Lewis Welch III (Judy), one daughter, Sonja Welch Scherff (Bert), 5 grandchildren, Frank Raddatz (Tera), Robert Welch IV, Jennifer Welch (Justin Fairchild), A J Scherff (Maria Lucero), and Marvin Scherff (Sabrina Lee), 12 Great Grandchildren, Frank Raddatz II, Makayla Raddatz, Hunter Raddatz, Natalie Welch, Clayton Welch, Katie Welch, Maddie Welch, Olivia Welch, Remington Welch, Liam Scherff, Elizabeth Fairchild, and Logan Fairchild, 2 brothers, Charles Danny Welch (Linda), and Joe Welch, 3 sisters, Anita Niffen (Glen), Wilma Ferguson, and Lenora Cairo (Phillip), and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, his partner, Dorothy, a brother, Mike “Koolaid” Welch, and sisters, Betty Clements, Jeanette Paxton, Leoretta Keller, and Christina Evans. He was a graduate of Clopton High School in 1955. He was a veteran serving with the US Navy. He was a certified electrician and had owned his own business in Springfield, MO called Bob’s Refrigeration. Honorary Pallbearers will be his grandchildren and great grandchildren. Active Pallbearers will be Frank Raddatz, Robert Welch IV, Albert Scherff, Jr., Frank Raddatz II, Hunter Raddatz, and Justin Fairchild. Memorials may be given to Donor’s Choice in care of Collier Funeral Homes, Inc., 117 Barnard Drive, Louisiana, MO 63353. Online condolences may be sent at www.collierfuneral.com.

Robert Lewis Welch Jr.

September 24, 1936 - September 22, 2017