Walter Rodney Welch Jr.

Walter Rodney Welch, Jr., 79, of Port Arthur, died unexpectedly Friday, October 7, 2022. "Lil Rodney", as he was known to family or "Teflon", to his workmates, was born October 24, 1942, in Port Arthur, to Rodney, Sr. and Laverne Welch.
Rodney graduated from Port Neches-Groves High School in 1960. He began his professional career at Texaco where he worked until his retirement in 2000. He met his wife, Phyllis Ann Stenmark, at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses and they were married May 28, 1964. Rodney and Phyllis welcomed their children, Mark Todd in March 1966, Nathan Troy in February 1972, and Jahsalyn Tara in April 1978.
Rodney was a loving husband and father and was known to NEVER meet a stranger. He was an early morning riser who woke up singing and had to have his coffee. He enjoyed tinkering outside and buying and trading on swap shop. Rodney also loved playing with his grandkids and talking with family and friends.
He is survived by his wife of fifty-eight years, Phyllis Welch; sisters, Linda Stephenson and husband, Dan, of Berea, Kentucky; Iris Self and husband, John, of Whitehouse; and Terry Stanley and husband, Doug, of Bullard; sister-in-law, Darlene Jennings and husband, Jay, of Port Arthur; children, Todd Welch of Houston; Troy Welch and wife, Jo Ann, of Houston; Jahsalyn Landry and husband, Jason, of Port Neches; and Jane McWhorter and husband, Thomas, of Corpus Christi; grandchildren, Courtney Nokes; Lauren Thompson; Theron Thompson; Rylan Landry; Sherry Raine; Parker McWhorter; Carolyn McWhorter; and Austin McWhorter; and great-grandchildren, Aiden Raine, Sawyer McWhorter, and Kyle and Konnor White.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Laverne Taylor Welch, in August 2012 and his father, Walter Rodney Welch, Sr., in August 2018.
He was a very special man who will be greatly missed by his family and many friends that loved him. We have unwavering faith in the resurrection hope and look forward to seeing him again in the near future. (Job 14:13-15)
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, October 22, 2022, at 2:00 p.m., at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, 2615 Memorial Boulevard, Port Arthur, Texas 77640. Zoom viewing arrangements will also be available. Cremation arrangements will be handled through Broussard's Crematorium, Beaumont, under the direction of Broussard's, 505 North 12 Street, Nederland.