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72 | SUN LAKES LIFESTYLES | JULY 2024 | Friends we will miss Submit your Friends We Will Miss to sunlakesnews@yahoo.com. Please keep remembrances to 400 words and include one recent, high-resolution photo. Robert E. Henderson, age 93, passed away April 16, 2024. He is preceded in death by his parents, James Byron Henderson and Irene Miller Henderson, and his first wife Marthann Booth Henderson. He is survived by his wife, Carol J. Henderson, daughter Rita Henderson (Edwin Sinclair), son Donald Henderson (Maureen), stepdaughters Wendy Anderson (Kjell), and Patricia Johnson, stepson Daniel Johnson, granddaughter Melissa Gray and grandson Matthew Gray, step-granddaughter Chelsea Johnson, and step-grandsons Kobi Johnson/Des Bordes, Kyle Salaya and Greg Salaya. Robert (Bob) was born in Rushville, IL on August 20, 1930. After high school, Bob was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals. He was then drafted into the Army and served during the Korean War, after which he moved to California and worked for Helms Bakery. He spent the rest of his working career in sales and marketing in the steel industry. Bob was a member of the Mayflower Society, the Sons of the American Revolution, the Whittier Masons, and a 51-year member of the Whittier Elks. He enjoyed coaching baseball, golfing, fishing, woodworking, gardening, cooking, dancing, and singing for the Sun Lakes Chorale. Bob will be remembered for his beautiful blue eyes, million dollar smile, and love for his family. He will be missed by his family and friends. We are sure he is "Singing in the Rain." A military honors and graveside service for Robert was held last month. Arthur L (Art) Welch, born December 4, 1937, passed away in Sun Lakes May 17, 2024. Art was born in Cape Girardeau, Missiouri, to Robert and Louise Koch Welch. He graduated with a BS in Marketing and Business Management from Southeast Missouri State College in Cape Girardeau in 1960. Upon graduation, he began a 36-year career with Merck & Co and married his college sweetheart Jo Ann (Jodie) Thomas on December 26, 1960. His work took the family to Kentucky, Illinois, Kansas, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and California. Art and Jodie moved to Sun Lakes November 4, 1994 and he retired from Merck June, 1996. He became an avid golfer playing in a foursome of neighbors. He served as Delegate for District 14 and then was elected to the Master Board. It was during his tenure the first renovation of the Main Clubhouse took place enlarging the Ballroom, adding a commercial kitchen and the formal dining room. Art was elected to the Banning City Council in 2002 and served as mayor for two years. In 2006, he became an area representative for then assemblyman Paul Cook. He was re-elected to the City Council in 2012 serving twice again as mayor. He also became an area representative for Senators Bill Emmersen, Mike Morrell, and at his passing, for Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh. He also served on the Riverside Transit Agency serving a year as chairman. He was a charter member of his fraternity Sigma Chi and a charter member of the San Gorgonio Pass Rotary Club where he served two years as president. He was on the board of Table of Plenty and a member of Beaumont Presbyterian Church, serving as elder several times. Art never turned down a job that was going to help an individual or the community. Art is survived by his wife Jodie; children: Lisbeth Welch-Stamos, Jim Welch (Shannon), and Scott Welch (Denice), seven grandchildren and two great-grandsons. He was predeceased by his parents, his brother John Welch, and his great-granddaughter Alexis Denice Montgomery.