SOUTH HIRAM — Robert J. “Bob” “Bobby” Welch, 48, of South Hiram, formerly of Porter, died unexpectedly on July 7, 2011, at Maine Medical Center in Portland.

He was born in Concord, N.H., on Nov. 8, 1962, the son of the late John “Jack” and Alberta Katherine Tarr Welch. Bob had absolutely adored his mother.

He attended local schools and graduated from Sacopee Valley High School in 1981. He started working in high school, delivering newspapers on his way to school. After graduating, he was a systems analyst and rose to the level of vice president and consultant of Systems Engineering at Bank of America, working in the Portland area as well as Boston, and even at home for the last five years. He was with the company when it was called Fleet Bank and even earlier, working for them for 28 years and four months. He was very good with computers and numbers, which was probably why he had been successful on his high school math team.

Bob was an avid sports fan. He enjoyed football and baseball and liked playing in fantasy leagues. He also enjoyed following several other sports. He had coached the girls’ softball team for several years, and was a baseball umpire as well. Recently, he was part of an APA Pool League that he enjoyed very much. Bob also enjoyed playing golf.

Above all, he loved his family. He married his wife Lea on July 16, 2005. She and their four children meant the world to Bob.

Surviving are his wife, Lea Welch of South Hiram; three sons, Zackary, Dameon and Xavior Welch; a daughter, Katherine Welch; four sisters, Mary Fisher of East Wakefield, N.H., Jackie Verrill of Porter, Sydney Sprague of North Berwick and Shannon Johnson of Limerick; two brothers, John Welch of Porter and Bob Valley of Ossipee, N.H.; and several loving nieces and nephews.

He was an exceptional man who made a lasting impression on everyone he met. He will be sadly missed by all who knew and loved him.

A celebration of his life was held on Monday, July 18, at the Watson, Neal & York Funeral Home, 71 Maple Street, Cornish.