Robert Whelchel

Graveside services for Robert "Bob" Whelchel of Fort Sumner will be held at 2pm Friday, July 3, 2015 at Fort Sumner Cemetery, Fort Sumner, NM with Brad Morgan officiating. Pallbearers will include Bill Whelchel, Daniel Whelchel, Robert Whelchel Jr., Nathan Whelchel, Raymond Whelchel, and James Whelchel. Visitation hours will be Thursday from 1pm to 6pm and Friday from 10am to 1:45pm. Robert "Bob" Whelchel, 75 was born January 30, 1940 in Amber, Oklahoma. He passed away on Thursday, June 30, 2015 at Presbyterian Hospital in Albuquerque following a sudden illness. Bob grew up in Oklahoma, Missouri, and Arizona, at the age of 13 he moved with his family to Gallup, NM where he made his home and attended school. Bob married Mary Lizabeth Taylor on November 25, 1969 in Juarez, Mexico. He worked for many years as a truck driver for Yellow Freight Company and was a member of Union #492. He also worked driving a truck during the construction of Cochiti Dam. Bob and Mary made their home in the Fort Sumner valley in 2003 and later moved into Fort Sumner in 2012. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, and racing hobby stock cars. Bob served several years as a volunteer for the Valley Fire Department. He is preceded in death by his parents, Walter and Madge (Bailey) Morris, a son Dayton Whelchel, and a sister Pat Brown. Survivors include his wife Mary Whelchel of the family home in Fort Sumner, a daughter Shirley Whelchel of Spokane, WA, three sons Robert Whelchel Jr. (Karma) of Edgewood, Bill Whelchel (Kimberly) of Rio Rancho, and Daniel Whelchel (Crystal) of Rio Rancho, a sister Cecilia Thurkill (Tom) of Wickenburg, AZ and two brothers Walter Morris of Hereford, AZ and Jim Morris of TorC, NM along with 16 grandchildren, 9 great-grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends. The family requests memorial contributions to a favorite children's hospital fund in Robert's memory. Arrangements are under the direction of Chavez Funeral Home, 830 N. Fifth Street, Fort Sumner, NM. (575) 355-2311. To place an online tribute or sign the guest book, go to www.chavezfuneralhome.com