Lt. Welsh

Lt. Colonel Robert John Welsh, 85, resident of Disney, OK, passed away on Saturday, August 26, 2006 in Vinita, OK at Craig General Hospital. He was born on November 18, 1920 in Sanborn, Minnesota to Sylvester John & Carrie (Distel) Welsh. Bob knew at a young age that he wanted to fly and enlisted in the Army Air Corps. After his training he was sent to Foggia, Italy as part of the 48th Fighter Squadron and flew 52 missions, along with logging 257 combat hours out of Foggia in 1944. Bob was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. In December of 1944, there were 10 pilots selected to test the new American jet plane and he flew the F-80 until his discharge in October of 1945. Bob then joined the Army Air Force Reserve and returned to farming in Minnesota until 1954, at which time he joined the Kansas Air National Guard at McConnell Air Base in Wichita, Kansas. He performed duties as a test pilot and flight instructor from 1960 through 1971. During this time he assembled 5000 hours of flying time. He was known as a leader and father figure by his squadron at McConnell, and was given the name "Pappy" by them. He retired as Commander of the 127th Tactical Fighter Squadron with the rank of Lt. Colonel. He and his wife, Mary Geraldine (Ellis) Welsh, retired to the Grand Lake area in 1971. He loved flying, boating and being on the lake. He also enjoyed flying his children and grandchildren to McDonald's or doing loops over the lake in his Aerobatic Citabra and then flying back to the grass field at Moots. Lt. Col. Welsh was preceded in death by his parents Sylvester and Carrie Welsh, a brother William "Bill" Welsh and a grandson, Zac Funston. Survivors include his wife of 45 years, Mary Geraldine "Geri" Welsh, of the home, his eight children, Patty Baldwin and her husband Gene of Tulsa, OK, Margie Edwards of Wichita, KS, Jill Carlson and husband Dick of Kiowa, CO, Susan Conley and husband Jim of Hickory, NC, Jack Funston and wife Darlene of Haysville, KS, Jenny McGregor and husband Don of Oregon City, OR, Cammie Funston of Wichita, KS, Robert C. Welsh and wife Margie of Vinita, OK, 19 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren. Mass of Christian Burial will be on Wednesday, August 30, 2006 at 1:00 p.m. at the St. Francis of Rome Catholic Church in Langley, OK with Father Celestine Obidiegwu officiating. Military Honors will be provided by the Kansas Air National Guard Honor Guard at White Chapel Memorial Gardens on Thursday, August 31 at 3:00 pm in Wichita, Kansas under the direction of Luginbuel Funeral Home of Langley. Friends and family may send online condolences by viewing obituaries at www.honoringmemories.com

Service Details

Wednesday, August 30th, 2006 1:00pm, St. Frances of Rome Catholic Church

Interment Details

White Chapel Memorial Gardens & Mausoleum