Robert Franklin Welch (Bob-The Jam Man)
Robert Franklin Welch (Bob-The Jam Man)
Robert entered this life November 1, 1929, in Ninnekah, Oklahoma, departed for heaven on
May 15, 2026, from Mountain Home, Arkansas. He was born to Claude Welch and Dace
Schoolfield Welch.
In 1941, the family moved to Sacramento, California. Bob graduated from Grant High
School with honors in 1947 from the ROTC program. For a short time, he worked for the
railroad as a fireman until 1950 when he joined the USAF. His rotations took him to Korea,
Vietnam, Libya, Iceland and many states before leaving for retirement in Mississippi.
Wanting to stay busy he began his second career of 17 years with Southwestern Bell
Telephone. There he received several monetary awards for improvement
recommendations. He served as a volunteer for Grant Parish Sheriff Escort department
riding his Gold Wing bike. He had a love for motor vehicles, especially his black and
white T-Bird.
In time, he developed a hobby of making jam and sharing his favorite strawberry-banana
jam with friends and strangers. Thus, he became known as “The Jam Man”. He kept a
record of first names and places they lived. If they returned his empty jars, he made a
note next to their name. Obviously, those from other states or countries could not return
empty jars. Throughout the years he gave thousands of jars away.
He served as President of Dry Prong, Grant Parish water Board for several terms.
Bob married Lucy Seastrunk Fields Welch and began a new hobby of completing honey
do lists but his best decision in life was a profession of faith in Jesus Christ on March
22, 2024.
Proceeded in death was his parents Claude Welch, Dace Welch, wife Bobbie Chilcoat
Welch, son Wayne, daughter Debra Futrell, brothers Claude Jr. Welch, Walter Welch,
grandson Timothy Tong.
Survivors include his wife Lucy Welch of Mountain Home, Arkansas, daughter Nancy Paige,
Louisiana, Melinda Tong (Ike) Arkansas, son Glenn Fields (Jeanne) Arkansas, sister-in-law
Janet Welch, Arkansas, brother Don Welch, California, grandchildren Josh Lincecum,
Louisiana, Jessica Cadis, Texas, Lance Harris, Texas, Blake Futrell, Louisiana, Benjamin
Tong, Alaska, Jonathan Fields, Arkansas, Shannon Moeser (Josh) Alaska, special cousin,
Alicia Henry, Oklahoma . Also, he leaves many nieces, nephews and cousins.
He will be interned at the Freeman Cemetery, in Alleene, Arkansas, with military honors
later.