Robert Allen Welch

Robert Allen Welch, 35, of Arlington, TN passed away in the early morning hours of Thursday, March 23, 2023. He is survived by his mother, Patty Welch, and was preceded in death by his grandparents, Bud and Mary Harless of Arlington.

Robert was a graduate of Bartlett High School and a member of Bellevue Baptist Church, where he accepted Christ as his savior in 1995.

A man with a variety of passions, Robert loved and advocated for shelter pets and all animals. His dog, Charlie Murphy was his pride and joy. He was a huge wrestling fan and loved DC Comics, especially the Green Lantern, his favorite. Additionally, Robert pursued his passion for cooking and culinary arts, graduating from L’Ecole Culinaire and becoming a chef.

As a young boy, he and his mom Patty moved to a neighborhood that was populated by several young boys his own age. Huge basketball games in the street, football games in the yard, and exploring on bicycles were commonplace. Moms in the neighborhood would trade off nights booking WrestleMania pay-per-views where the hosting mom would have a house full of kids huddled around the television mimicking wrestling moves in between bites of pizza.

Those neighborhood friends became a close circle of brothers, who loved and supported each other throughout their lives. Together in good times and bad, these “brothers from different mothers” remain rock solid today. Robert will be greatly missed, as there is a hole that can’t be filled, but his “family” is comforted by the memories, the many shared life events, and the good times shared.

Robert was blessed with a close relationship with his grandparents, Bud and Mary, who contributed greatly to his growth in character his entire life. His mother Patty was his greatest advocate and friend. She ensured that Robert never missed an opportunity, guided him with sage advice, and loved him greatly. Always supportive, Robert was constantly aware that he was never alone.

Family and friends will be gathering on Saturday, April 1 for a celebration of his life. The service will be held at Memphis Funeral Homes & Memorial Gardens at 3700 N Germantown Pkwy, Bartlett, TN. Visitation will be held at 1:00 p.m. with the service beginning at 2:00 p.m. There will be a graveside service following.

The service will not be formal, as that would not match who Robert was. The family asks that attendees dress comfortably and that they feel free to come dressed in any clothing that honors Robert’s passions, (DC Comics, wrestling, Green Lantern). There will be a reception following at the home of Ryan and Jenny Thomas at 4770 Oak Rd., Bartlett, TN 38002. Guests are welcome to come together to share stories and trade memories of Robert.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Street Dog Foundation at https://www.streetdogfoundation.com or the Salvation Army.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.MemphisFuneralGermantownParkway.com for the Welch family.